Nadal Murray

When Novak Djokovic against Rafael Nadal in the final 2010 US Open, everyone calls Guy "Rafa" solidified his position atop the tennis world by serving the third Grand Slam title of the season.

Now it's 'Nole', which can be a significant opportunity to increase the stroke: Nadal wins the title match on Monday in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic was 64-2 in 2011, 10 items, including three majors.

Djokovic would also 6-0 against Nadal this season.

Oh, how it has changed their rivalry in the short period of 12 months.

"Well, it is clear that this is the best years of my career, by far the confidence level is very high right now for me, help me ... go for the shots as I could, in certain situations would not;. I was not going ... In recent years, "said Djokovic.

"But that's all I think of a learning process and to gain experience and maturity as a player, as a person," he said after returning from two sets and deleting two balls game to beat Roger Federer in the semifinals Saturday.

In 2010, Nadal, Djokovic led 16-7 in head to head matches, including finals of the tournament 5-0 and 5-0 in Grand Slam meetings.

It was a different story for the final.

Heading into Monday - the fourth consecutive year in the US Open went to an extra day because of rain - Djokovic 5-0 against Nadal in 2011. These matches were all in the final, including the hard courts at Indian Wells, Calif., and Key Biscayne, Florida, on clay in Madrid and Rome, and on grass at Wimbledon.

After this latest setback, the only Grand Slam meeting of the season, Nadal, Djokovic admitted that he had a psychological advantage over him - the same way to keep more of Federer and Nadal seemed to have over the years.

Nadal and sounded a similar note when taking the perspective of the new Djokovic in U.S. Open final.

"I'm not very happy with my mental performance from him this year. It's true, right? Because the moments I did not really believe 100 percent (i) the victory. It is (a) big problem. Because when it happens, your chances small, much smaller than you think, "said Nadal after eliminating Andy Murray in the semifinals." So it was (a) problem, and that's what I will try to change for Monday. "

Nadal asked if he had employed a new strategy against Djokovic now.

"I think I'll serve and volley," he snapped, knowing - like everyone else - it will stick to beat-em-de-la-base tactics that have completed 25 years Spanish in 10 major trophies and a career Grand Slam Grand.

Day after winning Wimbledon in his third Grand Slam title - and No 2 this year in collaboration with the Australian Open - Djokovic has gone up a point in the standings is No. 1

He fell to number two Nadal, and Monday's game will be the first final between men ranked No. 2 U.S. 1-2 Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras, No. 1 in 1995, Open. For all of his Grand Slam final together, Federer and Nadal have never played a round at Flushing Meadows.

Federer looked set to reach his seventh U.S. Open last eight years leading 5-3, 40-15 in the fifth set against Djokovic on Saturday. But Djokovic ripped cross-court winner to go save, then rejected a second service in his body, and finally took the point.

This started a series of four straight games to Djokovic, who fulfills a massive return and reach their third final in New York. Serbian 24 year old Federer lost to Nadal in 2007 and 2010.

"What does it very well this year - before it works really well," Federer said later, "and started playing a lot was hard to attack his game ..".

It 'been a lot' to all those who have tried to deal with Djokovic during what, by any measure, is one of the greatest seasons in tennis history.

Or any other sport for that matter.

"Probably his movements are better than before. It has fewer errors than before. ... He plays with great confidence," said Nadal. "It is fantastic to keep his mind fresh for the important moments, fight every point. He does everything great."