BNP Paribas Masters, Paris
Men’s Final: [CR1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [CR10] Milos Raonic (SRB)
When every aspect of your game deserts you like Raonic’s did, the only explanation has to be nerves. Raonic was so overwhelmed by the occasion, his body and mind could not function coherently to produce the results that he wanted. Every shot he attempted failed.
Even Djokovic’s right ankle injury worked against Raonic, instead of giving him the advantage, it made Raonic more anxious. He butchered the simplest shots and had to work extremely hard to win the five games that he did. His defeat was inevitable. There was no belief that he could push the match to a third set because he could not elevate his game, nor execute his shots well enough, to compete with Djokovic.
This was Djokovic’s easiest victory of their encounters, 6-2, 6-3. He successfully defended his title and goes on as the favorite to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
Oh well. As you described his play in the semis, I thought, perhaps hoped, that he could dethrone Djokovic, at least in this tourney; but alas, it was not to be. As you said, Raonic has a ways to go to catch up with the likes of Djokovic. Too bad!!