Nadal defeats Djokovic to reach Madrid Open Final

Four-time champion Rafael Nadal, 30, confirmed his return to form with a long-awaited win over Novak Djokovic and ended a three-year, seven-match losing streak against the Serb to reach the final of the Madrid Open.

The Spaniard won 6-2 6-4 to claim his first victory over the Serb since the 2014 French Open final.

The win is also his 24th victory in 50 career meetings against Djokovic.

Nadal will face Austrian Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final.

It is a great result. To win against Novak by that score you have to be playing very well, otherwise it’s impossible. It was an important match for me. I lost a lot of times in a row. To break that means there are always nerves.

The circumstances nowadays are completely different compared to those seven matches that occurred before.

I think that the last two years perhaps haven’t been my best two years. For Novak, they were really good years.” He said.

Source: BBC Sport