The 2012 Madrid Masters match was not like some other, that includes a novel blue clay floor that stole the highlight. Roger Federer emerged as the primary and solely champion on this controversial floor, which was launched to reinforce visibility for TV viewers and add a definite identification to the occasion.
Nonetheless, the gamers’ response to the floor was removed from constructive proper from the beginning. Regardless of its origins from the identical earthen materials as conventional clay, the blue clay underwent a change in the course of the course of. Iron oxide was eliminated to alter its coloration from crimson to white, and blue pigment was added to attain its distinctive coloring.
But, past its vibrant look, the floor posed vital challenges. Its slippery nature made motion on the court docket treacherous, with gamers struggling to seek out stability and agility.
Notable names like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal expressed their discomfort with the brand new floor, threatening to boycott future editions if it remained unchanged.
In the end, their voices had been heard. A month later, ATP govt chairman and president Brad Drewett introduced the discontinuation of blue clay, urging a return to the normal crimson floor for the next yr’s match.
Amidst this gripping saga, one participant stood alone because the victor on blue clay, with Roger Federer lifting his second and final Caja Magica trophy. The Swiss prevailed over Milos Raonic after a thriller within the second spherical earlier than toppling Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer and Janko Tipsarevic with rock-solid performances.
Federer set the title conflict versus Tomas Berdych and prevailed 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 after two hours and 38 minutes, lifting the trophy on a novel floor. Roger landed 13 aces and defended six out of 9 break factors on the quick, slippery floor.
Tomas grabbed the opener and pushed world no. 3 to the bounds in units two and three. The Czech performed higher behind the second serve. Nonetheless, he confronted 11 break factors and acquired damaged 4 occasions, together with the twelfth video games of units two and three.
Federer claimed two factors greater than Berdych, forcing extra errors from his opponent after the same variety of winners. The Swiss solid a slim benefit within the shortest exchanges, and the Czech erased it within the extra superior ones, staying aggressive till the ultimate level.
Tomas made a dependable begin, touchdown an ace within the first recreation of the encounter and clinching a break with a backhand crosscourt return winner within the subsequent one for a 2-0 benefit. Berdych held at love in recreation three, cementing the break and settling right into a advantageous rhythm.
The Czech saved the identical tempo in recreation 5, firing 4 winners and shifting 5-2 up with one other comfy maintain in recreation seven.
Roger Federer lifted the 2012 Madrid Masters trophy on blue clay.
The Swiss struggled behind the preliminary shot within the eighth recreation, saving two set factors with service winners and increasing the battle.
Tomas served for the opener at 5-3 and landed a service winner, wrapping up the opener in 36 minutes and shifting nearer to a notable trophy. Roger stepped in on the return within the second recreation of the second set. He clinched his first break with a forehand winner and introduced the subsequent recreation house in below 70 seconds for a 3-0 lead, turning the tables.
Berdych extended the fifth recreation with a forehand winner and created a break probability. Federer denied it with an ace and closed the sport with a forehand down the road winner for 4-1. The Czech needed to work exhausting behind the preliminary shot within the sixth recreation from 40-0, saving a break level with an ace and shutting the sport with a volley winner, remaining inside one break deficit.
Roger painted a forehand crosscourt winner within the seventh recreation, sustaining the lead and serving for the set at 5-3.
Tomas saved a set level with a strong groundstroke, passing Roger on the web and pulling the break again after an awesome protection and a forehand down the road winner.
Berdych held at 30 within the tenth recreation, leveling the rating at 5-5 and prolonging the battle. Federer fired 4 service winners within the eleventh recreation and ready one other push on the return at 6-5. The Swiss painted a return winner for 2 set factors and seized the primary after a pricey double fault from his opponent, stealing the set 7-5 and forcing a decider after an hour and 35 minutes.
Roger performed towards two break factors initially of the ultimate set, defending them and shutting the sport with a forehand winner. Berdych made one other push on the return within the third recreation, touchdown a forehand crosscourt winner for a break probability that might have despatched him in entrance.
Federer saved his composure and fired three direct factors, getting out of jail in fashion and holding for 2-1. Tomas held with a volley winner within the fourth recreation and created a mini probability on the return within the subsequent one. Berdych fired a forehand winner for 30-0 and missed a routine forehand at 30-30, failing to create a break probability.
Tomas closed the sixth recreation with a service winner, remaining on the constructive facet. Roger fired up his forehand at 3-3 and clinched the sport with a backhand winner, shifting in entrance and maintaining the strain on the opposite facet.
Berdych performed towards three break factors within the eighth recreation and erased them with highly effective serves. Nonetheless, the Czech confronted the fourth and hit a double fault, sending the Swiss 5-3 in entrance. Roger served for the win in recreation 9 and didn’t cross the end line!
Tomas landed a deep return on a break level and drew Roger’s mistake, pulling the break again and increasing an exhilarating battle.
Berdych grabbed the tenth recreation with a service winner, locking the end result at 5-5 and including extra drama. Federer painted a forehand crosscourt winner within the eleventh recreation, forging one other benefit and maintaining the strain on the opposite facet.
Tomas fell 30-0 behind within the twelfth recreation after an enormous error on the web and confronted three match factors after failing to choose up a ball on the web. Berdych denied them and reached deuce earlier than spraying a forehand error, providing Federer his fourth match level.
The Czech netted a routine forehand, falling after an enormous battle and permitting the Swiss to turn out to be the primary and solely champion on blue clay! <iframe width=”100%” peak=”320″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/L71ULTvH6J4?si=to_6DPdSHW355ed2″ title=”YouTube video participant” frameborder=”0″ permit=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>