NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic heads into Monday’s U.S. Open final against No. 2 Rafael Nadal with a 63-2 record in 2011 with nine titles, including at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
And here’s another key number: Djokovic is 5-0 against Nadal this season, all in tournament finals.
Oh, how their rivalry has changed in the short span of 12 months.
As of the end of 2010, Nadal led Djokovic 16-7 in head-to-head matches, including a 5-0 record in tournament finals and 5-0 in Grand Slam meetings.
It’s been a whole different story of late, and Nadal acknowledges that Djokovic has gained a psychological edge over him.
It will be the first U.S. Open final between men ranked 1-2 since Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in 1995.
