When it seemed that the most repeated rivalry in the history of tennis, the one between the Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Spanish Rafael Nadal, could not offer any news, chapter 59 will have one: for the first time they will be measured on clay in the Parisian night.
I prefer to play during the day. I know this tournament during the day, that’s how I’ve played it all my career (…) It could be my last match at Roland Garros and I would like to play it during the day,” he assured.
Nadal, who is prevented by repeated injuries from making long-term plans about his career, before the game.
For the second time, the Spaniard specified, his most usual rival is a favorite on this stage, as in 2015, when Djokovic beat a physically depleted Nadal for the first time on clay in Paris.
“The rest of the duels either I was a little more favorite or they were 50-50”, he pointed.
(Don’t stop reading: Juan Pablo Montoya: unexpected reaction when a ‘fan’ asked him for a photo).
The script looks pretty much the same now. The Spaniard arrives without filming on clay, diminished by injuries that only allowed him to play in Rome, where his foot injury prevented him from fully competing. The star clash comes too soon, without his tennis having had time to get greased, with doubts after having been shaken in the round of 16 by the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who, for the third time in his career, forced him to play five sets at Roland Garros. Quite the opposite of the number one in the world, he was imperial in each of his four previous duels, without losing a set, without any worrying symptoms.
The Serbian pursues the third crown in Paris and, incidentally, match 21 majors with
Nadal precisely on the stage that has given more glory to the Spanish. All indicators point to a victory for Djokovic, the 31 against Nadal, the third in the ten duels at Roland Garros, the ninth of 28 on clay, the second in a row after last year’s semi-final at the Philippe Chatrier. But statistics are relative between these two contenders, especially when
Nadal has already given evidence of being reborn when he was left for dead.
The match begins
Novak Djokovic starts serving.
Rafael Nadal takes the first set. 6-2 for the Spanish.
The Spaniard is more aggressive than in all his previous games on the clay-court tour. At the moment he does not show any physical discomfort.
Novak Djokovic wakes up and wins the second set. 6-4 for the Serbian.
Vibrant match in the central arena of Roland Garros.
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