Nadal-Djokovic, a new round in tennis’ most prolific rivalry

Published on : 31/05/2022 – 07:01

The expected duel between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will take place. The two living legends of tennis meet on Tuesday evening in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros, for the 59th duel of a rivalry that has lasted since 2006.

At each Grand Slam tournament, it’s the same ritual. The draw is watched feverishly to find out when the two tennis giants will meet, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. That of the 2022 edition had scheduled a possible meeting for the quarter-finals. Four rounds later, the two legends are well on the way for their 59^e meeting, which must take place during a night session.

“Of course, this is the match that many people have been waiting for since the draw,” acknowledged Novak Djokovic at a press conference.

Fifty-eight clashes, advantage Djokovic

It is quite simply the most prolific rivalry in men’s tennis. Of their 58 clashes to date, the world number 1 is ahead (30-28). On fast surfaces, the Serb’s advantage is overwhelming (20-7) but on clay – his favorite surface – Rafael Nadal leads 19 to 8. In Grand Slam, statistical advantage in Mallorca (10-7).

The Spaniard is also the holder of a record that Novak Djokovic has been chasing for a long time: the number of Grand Slam final victories. Last January, Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open and therefore the 21^e major career trophy, surpassing the two other members of the “Big Three”, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, blocked at 20. Thirteen times winner of the Coupe des Mousquetaires, he is quite simply the king of Roland-Garros. He even already his statue at the entrance and the organizers have provided the necessary space to be able to add any additional titles…

Between “Rafa” and “Nole”, the last duel on the courts dates back a year, already on Parisian clay, but a step higher: Djokovic overthrew Nadal therethe thirteen times master of the place, after a Homeric fight lasting more than four hours (3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2), before offering himself the trophy against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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— Univers Tennis ???? (@UniversTennis) May 29, 2022

Djokovic back on track

Indeed, injuries and circumstances have deprived tennis fans of a new confrontation. Rafael Nadal had to forfeit for the Olympic Games and the two remaining Grand Slams in 2021 (Wimbledon and US Open). At the same time, Novak Djokovic had a complicated year, once past his consecration on grass.

An air pocket during the Olympic Games deprived him of both a individual and double victory. Then, at the US Open, it was the feat of a calendar Grand Slam unprecedented in the Open era that slipped through his hands in the final against Daniil Medvedev. Then there was the incredible australian saga : for lack of vaccination, Novak Djokovic was expelled from the country and could not start the local Open. His first quarter came down to three small matches. A physical and psychological workaholic, the “Djoker” got back on the right track.

A path in the form of an upward curve which led him from an entry defeat in Monte-Carlo in mid-April to the title in Rome on May 15. It took only a month for the Serbian to be himself again after his almost white first term.

“I have the feeling that it’s behind me. I feel very good on the court. Mentally too. I’m fresh. I’m sharp,” he said at a press conference after his Roman coronation.

Nadal without certainties

Quite the opposite of Nadal. Despite his coronation at the Australian Open, the Spaniard has never landed at Porte d’Auteuil with so little certainty. The Majorcan arrived in Paris on the most precarious dynamic of his career: only five matches played on clay, no final, the fault of a fatigue fracture in the ribs two months from Roland-Garros, and a left foot in capilotade ten days before. This injury had even cast doubt on his participation in the Parisian meeting.

In the tournament too, Nadal is suffering in an unusual way. As during his round of 16 against Félix Auger-Aliassime. He had to fight for 4 h 21 min to get out of this trap against the ninth in the world. He was even pushed into a fifth set, only his third such match at Roland Garros and the first since 2013.

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— Univers Tennis ???? (@UniversTennis) May 29, 2022

After being only a shadow of himself at the start of the match, Nadal was able to gradually regain control of the game, until leading two sets to one. But when we thought the outcome was heard, Auger-Aliassime, carried by his service, forced the Spanish champion to play a fifth set. A long effort that Nadal risks paying.

“I still went through a difficult period with my foot, so I don’t know what can happen in the near future with my career”, Nadal philosophized after his round of 16. “That’s why I’m just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to continue living the dream of continuing to play tennis and being back in a very late round of Roland- Garros, playing against the world number 1. We’ll see.”

Djokovic and promenade

Opposite, Novak Djokovic is currently on a health walk. In the round of 16, the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman, 16^e world champion and clay court specialist, paid the price. He was knocked out 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 in just over two hours.

The 35-year-old Serb is in the quarter-finals for the thirteenth consecutive year at Roland-Garros. And quickly: without losing a single set, only losing thirty games in four matches and having spent barely more than eight hours on the courts of Porte d’Auteuil.

“I’m glad I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself until the quarter-finals, knowing that playing (Rafael Nadal) at Roland-Garros is always a physical battle, not to mention the rest,” said Novak Djokovic before the confrontation. “It’s a huge challenge and probably the biggest we can have here at Roland-Garros. I like the way I feel and the way I hit the ball. I’m going to focus on what I have to do and I believe in my chances.”

“Nole” can believe it. He is the only man to have twice beaten Nadal Porte d’Auteuil. Never two without three ?