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PARIS (Reuters) – The past will mean nothing to Rafa Nadal when he takes on world number one Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s French Open final with two more milestones at stake.
The Spaniard, who has dominated the clay-court Major for more than a decade, will seek a 13th Roland Garros title to extend the record and a 20 Grand Slam crown to equal the record when he resumes an old rivalry with Serbian Djokovic.
Nadal advanced to his thirteenth French Open final by defeating Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (0) on Friday, ensuring that the Argentine would not become the third player to beat him twice. on clay in the same season, a unique feat. achieved by Djokovic, twice, and by the Italian Fabio Fognini.
The second-seeded Spaniard has lost only two of 101 games at Roland Garros, one of them against Djokovic in the 2015 quarter-finals.
The Serbian, however, has lost to Nadal twice in the final in 2012 and 2014, and four more times in previous rounds.
World number two Nadal said none of that will matter on Sunday.
“Different circumstances, different types of tournament and different situations,” the 34-year-old told a news conference.
“I can’t predict the future … The only thing I know is to play against Novak, I need to play my best. Without playing my best tennis, the situation is very difficult.”
No other player knows Philippe Chatrier’s court as well as Nadal.
“I know it’s a court that I’ve been playing well on for so long, so that helps,” he said.
“But at the same time, he also has an amazing record here, being in the final rounds almost every time.
“He is one of the toughest opponents possible. But I’m here to keep doing my best. I like to play in this scenario. I know I have to step up. I think I did it today.”
Nadal avenged his loss to Schwartzman at the Italian Open by playing “with a plan, with the right determination” and “tactically the right match.”
He believes, however, that he will need to step up his march against Djokovic.
“For Sunday it is not enough. I need to take another step forward. That is what I am looking for. I am going to work hard to make that happen,” he said.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
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