Novak Djokovic demolishes Rafael Nadal's fort in Monte Carlo

Novak Djokovic serves to Rafael Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters

The real estate in Monte Carlo is insanely expensive. Under bright sunshine in the French principality, Novak Djokovic produced some sustained brilliance to usurp some of it from an adamant Spaniard. It is still very early, but today could prove to be a harbinger of a new era in Roland Garros.

After nearly a decade of hunting like a majestic lion, Rafael Nadal began this match as the prey to Novak Djokovic. The eight time Monte Carlo winner sought to bite early, but Djokovic carried too much arsenal and commitment to a match that often felt like a gladiatorial final.

At the end of an hour and 37 minute battle, it was the Serbian who earned a memorable 6-4, 6-3 victory over the mightiest clay court player ever. In the Monte Carlo final, Djokovic will take on Tomas Berdych on Sunday. The Czech defeated Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final.

First blow to Nadal, but Djokovic strikes back

In a highly entertaining encounter, Nadal drew first blood but it was Djokovic who had the last laugh. The Serbian made clever use of depth of court and raw power, but more importantly he was able to deploy his backhand down the line. Djokovic struck them flat and fierce to force Nadal low on his backhand side, allowing the Serbian valuable time and space at critical junctures in the match.

Serving first, Djokovic put out his weapons quickly, striking ferociously with his forehand to take the first point. But then Nadal does not take things lying down ever, especially so when he is practising his craft on the red dirt, his favoured surface.

He unleashed a thundering winner for the first break point of the match. It was an angled forehand beauty that underlined Nadal’s desire to sting early. The Spaniard controlled the next point before nailing the break with a sweetly timed backhand drop volley.

Djokovic was clearly struggling for space, surviving yet another deuce point before getting on the score sheet at 1-2. This was the 43rd episode of an epic rivalry, yet there was refreshing energy on either side of the net in this battle for supremacy.

Nadal offered a hint of vulnerability when he committed a double fault in the fourth game. Djokovic showed some deft touches at the net to earn a break point with a feathery lob over Nadal.

It was obvious that the butterflies had settled down for Djokovic when he won six straight points to gain a 3-2 edge over Nadal, winning three straight games.

The quality of tennis started to soar into the sky in the seventh game. Djokovic answered Nadal’s brilliance in the same coin - stretching limbs to not just retrieve a Nadal drop but also to find the angle to feather a sublime cross court winner. Not willing to be overawed, Nadal stung with a brutally precise forehand top spin winner to draw break point.

It took all of Djokovic’s temperament and technique to battle Nadal in a lengthy rally on the next point to claw back to deuce. As the game got longer, the rallies became insanely brilliant as the two men showcased their mastery of power, guile and touch.

It took 11 minutes then for Djokovic to finally hold his serve. It was only a game after all, but it was also an engaging chapter in an obviously epic narrative. An important battle within a battle had been settled.

Djokovic used the raw energy from that game to snag a break from Nadal before closing out the first set on his serve. In winning six of the seven games after being down 0-2, Djokovic made an impressive statement to take control of the match.

Nadal fights back, but Djokovic knocks him down for the count

Nadal was on the verge of getting thrown off the rails when he trailed 15-40 in the first game of the second set. The Spaniard rallied with typical resilience to not only win the game but also mount a vicious counter attack to try and find a way back into the match.

As amazed as Djokovic was with some of the shot-making from his opponent, the Serbian refused to lower his guard. At 3-3, Nadal was on the verge of holding serve at 40-0. Strangely though the Spaniard made an uncharacteristic forehand error and followed it with a double fault to allow the Serbian back into the game.

Just as was the case in the first set, this was to become the pivotal game in this set too. Djokovic struck a seething forehand winner to draw the game to deuce. As both men battled for each point as if their very life depended on it, it was Djokovic who snatched the break after a bruising 12-minute battle.

It was an advantage that was to prove decisive in the end. Nadal would not win another game after losing the seventh game.

Djokovic had to surrender his first match point to a volleyed winner by Nadal, but a second chance came soon enough. The Serbian bludgeoned a forehand winner into the ad-court to regain an opportunity. He raised his arms in the air, soon after he dealt the knock-out punch with another forehand winner.

Djokovic made 23 winners to Nadal’s 20, but produced lesser errors – 19 to the Spaniard’s 23. Even more telling was the fact that Djokovic won 72% of first serve points to only 58% by Nadal. The Serbian also won 58% of his second serve points, while Nadal managed only 48% on that count.

There was to be no trophy for the victory, but it does offer Djokovic the early advantage in an already promising season on clay.