On paper or the net, Novak Djokovic would appear to be the overwhelming favourite going into play the Wimbledon final against local favourite, Andy Murray. But, in a tournament that has seen Champions of yore and present day fall to hitherto anonymous players, one would either have to be either prescient or downright foolish to predict the outcome of what is indeed clash of two starkly different players.
The Serb and the Scot have confronted each other across the net 18 times in their relatively brief, yet interesting, if not illustrious careers. Djokovic leads the head to head 11-7. Murray is sure to be smarting from the defeat that Djokovic handed to him in the final of the Australian Open earlier this year and he certainly couldn't have asked for a bigger theater or for for a more heady combination than a Wimbledon final at the Centre Court to extract revenge.
Both Djokovic and Murray come into the final having played some gruelling matches along the way. Murray, who was hardly troubled till he was pushed to the brink of defeat by Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-final. After dropping the first two sets, Murray rallied back to clinch what was a real humdinger of a match. But, in all fairness, it needs to be said that it was Verdasco who was the better player for the better part of that match. But, when it comes to nerves, Murray's are made of a material much harder than steel and as a player, he has faced disappointment and dejection far too many times to get ruffled by the loss of a set or two.
Against the big serving Jerzy Janowycz in the semi-final, Murray, despite having to contend with second serves that were being fired at speeds of over 130 miles per hour, refused to get overawed and took the Pole apart in four sets. Murray's ability to keep the ball in play and his insufferable attitude to chase each and every ball down tirelessly in conjunction with a formidable net game makes the Scot a dangerous customer indeed. Among the many strokes that Murray has in his repertoire is a highly deceptive drop shot, one he can play with either the forehand or the backhand. In fact, Murray is probably one of the best players of the drop shot in men's tennis today. Murray also boats a vicious backhand slice, a stroke he sporadically employs as an approach shot to the net as well as using it as an attacking option. His ability to disguise the amount of spin he is imparting on the ball is what gives Murray the edge.
Despite all these glorious attributes, if Murray has only one Major title to his credit, the reason, one that is not very hard to fathom, is fairly obvious: His defensive approach. Murray, unlike Djokovic and Roger Federer, is not a player who is wont to force the issue. He is content to simply retrieve the ball and keep it in play till the opportune moment arises, when he can go for the kill. The distance he covers in each game bears testimony to the above statement. While this might help him to set the pace of the rally and doesn't afford his opponent a lot of latitude to send the ball back flying, it also acts as a huge handicap. His penchant to hold back a winner may be mighty handy against players who have not had a great deal of experience facing him. But, against seasoned campaigners and familiar foes such as Djokovic, his greatest asset could just end up becoming his biggest liability.
On the other hand, Djokovic, is an out-and-out attacking player in whom a single defensive bone would be hard to come by. Going into the final after prevailing in what was probably the match of the tournament against Argentine, Juan Martin del Potro, Djokovic is brimming with confidence and considering that it was he who came out on top in their previous engagement in a Grand Slam final, the Serb has all the reasons to be so.
Pit against a player, who has garnered a reputation for hitting big, Djokovic was not flustered and drew, not only from his strength and his wealth of experience, but also from his will-power to overcome del Potro in an encounter that was taxed not only the body, but also the nerves. Having to contend not only with del Potro's monstrous ground strokes, but also his formidable serve, which the Argentine often employs as a weapon to get out of sticky situations, Djokovic, despite showing some visible signs of frustration, held his nerve to clinch the match. While Djokovic won the match, del Potro, who battled through pain and won what were the most demanding and challenging points in the game, it was who won the hearts of the crowd.
At the end of the semi-final match, it was interesting to note that Djokovic had struck far greater winners than del Potro. Djokovic's ability to sustain the tempo in long rallies and his indefatigable, lithe body enabled the Serb to dictate terms in most of the points. Against Murray, it will be these characteristics that will have to come to the fore.
Apart from his thunderous ground-strokes and a reasonably strong serve, Djokovic is also an able player at the net, but it is highly unlikely that one will see a good deal of play from the net in the final. Both Murray and Djokovic are players to whom the phrase of serve-and-volley, while not altogether alien, has never been an integral part of their coaching manuals. Both the players contend themselves by slugging it out from the baseline. When it comes to variety and efficacy of ground-strokes, one will have to go with Djokovic, who not only loads immense power into his forehands and backhands, but is also extremely adept at placing them.
The Australian Open final in February this year was a slug-fest that lasted over five hours and this final promises to be yet another gripping encounter.