Even though Rafael Nadal had to struggle for 4:23 hours on Sunday to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime (Can) in five sets, the Mallorcan would have liked a shorter break before today’s tennis classic against Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the French Open . The application of the 21-time Grand Slam champion to be allowed to contest the afternoon session was not granted.
The 59th duel of the giants takes place at “Prime Time” (8.45 p.m., ServusTV live) under floodlights on the sold-out Court Philippe Chatrier with 15,000 spectators. For the soon to be 36-year-old “Clay Court King of Paris”, this is a perceived defeat that his coach Carlos Moya is reluctant to accept. “Rafa is a 13-time Roland Garros triumphant. If he makes a request, you should listen to him. But it’s all about business, we understand that.”
Nadal is behind in the all-time record against Serbian champion Djokovic (35), who has conquered 20 major titles, with 28:30 wins. But that’s not the reason why the Spaniard thinks he’s an outsider in the late autumn of his career. “Novak is the clear favorite for me. The match against Djokovic could be my last at the French Open,” said Nadal. “I know Roland Garros primarily in daylight, I prefer to play when it’s light.” Shooting star Carlos Alcaraz, who will have to deal with Alexander Zverev (D) at the preferred Nadal time (3 p.m.), still bets on his great role model. “For me, Rafa is always the favorite on clay – even if he is no longer active.” Laughter.
Nadal shuns night shifts on sand like the devil shuns holy water. Why is that? “It’s completely different tennis. The humidity is higher, the ball flies slower. It can get really uncomfortable conditions – especially when it’s cold.” And that’s to be expected. Paris is currently not exactly a “hotspot” on the globe. When the sun disappears, temperatures drop to ten degrees or even lower. Nadal doesn’t like that at all.
Djokovic is the only one who has brought Nadal to his knees twice at Roland Garros – in 2015 in the final and last year in the semifinals. The Spaniard’s French Open yield still reads impressively. Nadal has won 109 individual games and lost only three, the third was against Robin Soderling (Swe) in 2009.
“Nadal and Paris – it’s a single success story. I’ll do everything I can to deliver a great match,” said Djokovic, who is still without losing a set in the second Grand Slam tournament of this year. The 35-year-old missed the first – the Australian Open – because of a violation of the corona regulations.
French Open in Paris (Grand Slam, 43.6 million euros, clay), round of 16, men: Rune (Den) – Tsitsipas (Gre/4) 7: 5, 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 4, Ruud ( Nor/8) – Hurkacz (Pol/12) 6:2, 6:3, 3:6, 6:3, Rublev (Rus/7) – Sinner (Ita/11) 1:6, 6:4, 2: 0 submission Sinner (knee injury). Women: Kasatkina (Rus/20) – Giorgi (Ita/28) 6: 2, 6: 2, Kudermetova (Rus/29) – Keys (USA/22) 1: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1, Pegula ( USA/11) – Begu (Ro) 4:6, 6:2, 6:3.
Source: Nachrichten
