French Open 2022: Defending champion Novak Djokovic will take on 13-time champion Rafael Nadal in a blockbuster quarter-final which has been scheduled for the night session at the Philippe Chatrier in Paris on Tuesday, May 31.
Djokovic s only win against Nadal in Roland Garros came in the quarterfinals in 2015
June 11, 2021 10:56 BST
Frenchman Fabrice Santoro believes even the great Djokovic will not be able to stop the Spaniard if he displays similar form to what he showed in the latter half of his quarterfinal win over Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal looked to be in trouble against the diminutive Argentinean despite winning the first set. Schwartzman won the second set and was tormenting Nadal with his ground strokes in the third. The 13-time French Open winner, however, had another gear up his sleeve.
Santoro admitted that at one point, he thought Schwartzman would pull off a major upset but then saw what Nadal was capable of when he really wanted to turn up the pressure. The King of Clay won the third set and breezed past Schwartzman in the fourth to record a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win.
Rafael Nadal overcame Diego Schwartzman and Novak Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini to set up a semi-final clash against each other. It is the most highly anticipated match of the tournament.
Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer were drawn into the same half at the 2021 French Open
June 1, 2021 08:47 BST
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will get their French Open campaigns underway on Tuesday, and are well aware that they could face each other in the semi-finals this year.
The 13-time French Open champion and Djokovic were drawn into the same half owing to Nadal s number three seeding. The duo, who have contested three finals in Paris previously, are expected to potentially face off in the semi-finals this year.
Nadal claimed prior to the start of the Grand Slam at Roland Garros that he was not concerned about landing in Djokovic s half. While the Spaniard is keeping an eye on a potential match up with his great rival, he made it clear that his focus is on his upcoming matches, first of which is against Alexei Popyrin.