PREVIEW: Nadal needs to make a mental leap to stop Djokovic in final

By Bill Scott Sep 11, 2011, 23:41 GMT

New York - US Open holder Rafael Nadal is determined to break the stranglehold of Serb Novak Djokivic this season after losing five straight finals to the world number one as the pair meet on Monday for the last Grand Slam title of the season.

Number two Nadal, who was overhauled by Djokovic in the rankings, has not beaten the man against whom he stands 16-12 overall since last November in London. In the meantime, Djokovic has charged to nine titles and a 63-2 record this season. putting away Roger Federer in a five-set semi-final to reach a repeat of the 2010 final at Flushing Meadows.

'The similarities are that we are the same players,' said Nadal, whose last hardcourt outdoor title came in New York a year ago over Djokovic. 'This year I've lost five finals against him.

'That's an advantage for him and he's obviously the favourite for the final. I know I have to do something better than the other matches to try to change the situation.'

Djokovic has been on fire this season and he knows it.

'This is obviously the best year of my career, by far. The confidence level that is very high at this moment for me helps me to get into big matches and go for the shots that I maybe in some situations wouldn't, that I wasn't going for those shots in the past couple years.

'It's a process of learning and getting experience and maturing as a player, as a person. I know I'm having a great season and I know I have great confidence.'

Djokovic is bidding to become the sixth man to win three Grand Slam titles in the same season. He won the Australian Open over Andy Murray and claimed Wimbledon against Nadal.

While the top seed is confident, he's not invincible against Nadal.

'I know that I have a game that is good enough to win against him. I've proved that this year in three different surfaces, so I believe that I have a good chance.

'I need to go out on the court believing I can win. But we're talking about a player who has won 10 majors already in his career and he's only 25.'

Nadal also has belief as he aims for a fourth trophy of the season and first off of clay in 2011. 'I have my game, and I beat him in the past playing my game,' said the Spaniard.

'I must play my game very well and be enough strong mentally all the time, fight every ball, believe in the victory in every moment. That's something that for moments this year I didn't.

'I need to play a similar match to last year. I've seen that match a lot of times and I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I gonna be able to do it.'

Nadal said it's his mental side that needs a tune-up when he faces Djokovic on current form. 'I'm not very happy about my mental performance against him this year. In some moments I didn't believe really 100 percent in the victory.'

The men's final is delayed by a day for the fourth straight year thanks to two days of washouts this week and the lack of a moveable roof over any showcourt.