Chapter 56 as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal watch history in the Roland Garros blockbuster | Tennis news

PARIS: Novak Djokovic Y Rafael Nadal They will meet for the 56th time on Sunday in a final Roland Garros blockbuster with history at stake for both men.
World number one Djokovic pursues an 18th Grand Slam title and a second open French which would make him the first man in half a century to win all four Slams twice.
Defending champion Nadal, the world number two, can win a thirteenth Roland Garros and a twenty major, which would tie his all-time men’s record. Roger Federer.

Sunday’s victory would also give the 34-year-old Spaniard his 100th victory in Paris against just two losses in 15 years.
One of those losses came against Djokovic in the 2015 quarterfinals, the last time the pair faced each other on the crushed red brick surface of the Philippe Chatrier court.
The Serbian won 37 matches in 2020 and his only loss was self-inflicted through his infamous foul at the US Open.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, who pushed Djokovic to five sets in a winded semifinal, sees little flaw in the first seed’s play.
“It has reached almost perfection,” said the Greek.
The 22-year-old equaled Djokovic when it came to total assault on Friday night, but in the decisive moments, the Serbian wall held firm as the world number one saved 11 of the 15 break points he faced.
The 33-year-old Djokovic holds a 29-26 lead over Nadal in their long-standing rivalry.
They have won 14 of their last 18 meetings and the last three in the Slams.
However, the pair’s most recent three matches on clay have gone well for Nadal with Djokovic’s last victory on clay in the quarter-finals in Rome four years ago.
At the French Open, Nadal holds a 6-1 lead, including victories in the 2012 and 2014 finals.
“This is Rafa’s house,” said Djokovic, describing facing the Spaniard on clay as the “biggest challenge” in the sport.
However, he insists he has played much bigger finals and signaled his first win over Nadal in a Slam at Wimbledon in 2011.
“I don’t think this is the most important game I’ve ever played in my life,” he said.
“In terms of importance, probably the first Wimbledon final that I played against him.
“Wimbledon was always the one I wanted to win as a kid and dreamed of winning. That’s probably the one that stands out.”
Djokovic also put up his final 2016 Paris victory over Andy Murray, allowing him to celebrate a career Grand Slam, on top of Sunday’s final installment of his rivalry with Nadal.
“Each French Open Final that I played was the game of my life before winning it. ”
Despite his high praise for his opponent, Djokovic sees an advantage for him with the tournament played in the fall rather than his traditional spring and early summer slot.
The climate is cooler and the conditions are harsher.
“The conditions are different than what we are used to playing in May and June,” said Djokovic.
“I think that might be a better opportunity for me, obviously the ball doesn’t bounce as high over his shoulder as he likes.”
Nadal enjoys the heat and sunlight and has been wary of the cold and humidity throughout the tournament, complaining that players are exposed to danger as a result.
His run to a 13th final in Paris has been uneventful, as he has yet to lose a set.
However, he has only faced one seed: 12th Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the semifinals.
His other five opponents were all outside the top 70; two were ranked 213 and 236.
Nadal is wary of reading too much about his good progress in Paris or his 17-7 overall record on clay over Djokovic.
“Different circumstances, different type of tournament and different situation,” Nadal said before his ninth clash in a Grand Slam final.
“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.
“I know this is a court that I’ve been playing well on for so long, so that helps.
“He is one of the toughest opponents possible.”
Meanwhile, Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya told AFP that they have a specific plan to deal with Djokovic.
“It is a very important challenge, it is clear that it is one of the greats in history. I don’t know if it is more difficult than facing Federer in his prime at Wimbledon, but we have a plan,” Moya told AFP.