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Nadal and Djokovic have met 55 times, in a direct comparison the Serbian leads 29:26. The record at the French Open, however, speaks clear language: out of seven games so far, the Spaniard has won six. Djokovic only got the advantage in the 2015 quarter-finals, the last meeting so far in Paris. Nadal won the final two matches (2012, 2014).
“He is at home here. Playing Rafa at Roland Garros on clay is the biggest challenge there is, ”said Djokovic, speaking of a“ great fight ”against the weakened Tsitsipas. The semifinals cost substance, he admitted. “I hope I can recover well because I need my best tennis. I’m looking forward to it, happy to be there and motivated to win. “
Tsitsipas appears after a 2-0 run on set
After the first two sets lost, Tsitsipas made the duel with the world’s No. 1 seed really exciting. After ten break balls, he broke Djokovic’s serve at the right time, defended himself against a match point and earned the victory in the set. At the start of the fourth round, the 22-year-old followed with a 2-0 lead.
The “Djoker” fought back immediately, but the Greek managed to break again to 6: 4. Djokovic saved it and looked enormously strong on the decision set. With 6: 1 he did not give Tsitsipas (ATP-6.) A chance and left the court as the winner after 3:54 hours. Jürgen Melzer remains the only player who still won against Djokovic after a 2-0 set at a disadvantage (Paris 2010).
Nadal untouchable on the way to the final
Djokovic is undefeated this year but now faces his greatest test of endurance. While he won the Roland Garros title in 2016, Nadal now has 99 wins and just two losses at this event. Furthermore, unlike the Serbian (3), the Spanish has not yet pronounced a single sentence. Since 2005 he only won the title in 2009, 2015 and 2016, he has twelve wins.
Nadal for the 13th time in the final of the French Open
Unsurprisingly, clay king Rafael Nadal has advanced to the final of the French Open for the thirteenth time. In the semifinals against the conqueror of Thiem Diego Schwartzman, the defending champion did not make sentence.
Once in the final, Nadal never lost. This is not the only reason why the world number two is again the favorite. Djokovic lost in three Paris finals: Nadal in 2012 and 2014 and Stan Wawrinka in 2015. “To be here in the final once again is incredible. This is a very nice moment, ”Nadal said in his short French speech on the court Philippe Chatrier, which was sparsely filled due to Corona’s requirements. With the victory in 3:09 hours against the quarter-final defender Dominic Thiem, who was only 1.70 meters tall, the Mallorcan left-hander cemented his specialty in the red ash of the Bois de Boulogne.
Nadal can catch Federer
With his 20th Grand Slam win, Nadal would tie with the Swiss Roger Federer, who has now finished his season. “I knew today would be difficult,” Nadal said, “but I’m glad I made it.” For Djokovic it would be the 18th win in a major, allowing him to catch up with Nadal.
Schwartzman initially looked a bit tired after his 5:08 hour five-set match against Thiem. The first game of the first set lasted 14 minutes before Nadal served. He managed the break until 2-0, but both lost service before Nadal laid the foundations of success in the 67th minute with a 6-3. The fact that Nadal had to accept the only loss to Schwartzman at the Rome Masters did not seem to affect him.
French Open in Paris
Single men
