Back Nadal to see off Djokovic in an epic Madrid Open Final
Published:This year’s Madrid Open may have been fairly predictable but the result is something of a dream final as clay court supreme Rafael Nadal chases yet another title on the surface against the star performer of 2011, Novak Djokovic…
Match odds
Djokovic has beaten Nadal twice already this season but this is the first meeting on clay and that’s a huge difference maker given that the world number one has won all nine of their prior clashes on the surface.
As a result of that head-to-head advantage and the fact that the Spaniard has lost just four times on clay since 2005 and hasn’t been defeated on it since the 2009 French Open, he is a convincing favourite at 4/11.
His Serbian opponent can hardly be dismissed at 2/1 given his absurd 2011 record of 31 wins in 31 encounters, and he can also take encouragement from the fact that that this is the clay court event that his opponent is most vulnerable at.
Whereas Nadal has triumphed seven times in Monte Carlo and on five occasions in Rome, he has only delivered the title twice in his own country before and has even lost in the final once, being conquered by Roger Federer in 2009.
Set betting
Both men required three sets to get the job done in their semi-final matches and this one is just as likely to go the distance because while Djokovic has never overcome Nadal on clay, he rarely goes down without a fight.
Two of their last three clay collisions have gone to a final set and with Djokovic entering the latest one in the form of his life, he is easily capable of putting Nadal under intense pressure again, with odds of 11/4 offered on a 2-1 Nadal win.
A £30 stake on Nadal enjoying a 2-1 victory would provide a £82.50 profit. New customers can sign up here for a free £30 bet
