Nadal

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal would each "make totally different requests" in regards to a day or night match if they are to end up facing off in Paris.

"All of a sudden he [Djokovic] loses to Alcaraz [in Madrid], what’s happening? All of a sudden, they go to Australia where everyone is saying Novak is going to break the record and guess what? Novak has a way of fuelling these situations into something positive - that is very hard to do. Well, he wins Rome; now it looks like, there is Novak Djokovic - he’s back! Slight, very slight!" "I don't think we have to worry a whole lot about Rafa at Roland-Garros, if you look at his record, it's crazy, it's insane how good it is.

Novak Djokovic showed glimpses of his brilliant best to demolish Diego Schwartzman 6-1 6-3 6-3 on Sunday and book his place in the French Open ...

But the Argentine was not ready to give up and he broke for 2-0 in the second set and held for 3-0 only for Djokovic to raise his level again to break back with a crosscourt forehand winner. "I have a lot of respect for him. The match looked nothing like the 2017 Roland Garros thriller between the pair, when Djokovic had to fight from two sets down to advance to the fourth round.

Novak Djokovic set up a possible quarter-final meeting with old rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open with an impressive straight-sets victory over Diego ...

Schwartzman saved a match point in game eight to force Djokovic to serve it out, which he did, to love. The pattern of the match continued, as Djokovic broke in the very next game to all but end the tie as a contest. Djokovic took his head-to-head record against Argentinian Schwartzman to 7-0 with a clinical display, in which he saved seven of the eight break points he faced.

The reigning champion, bidding to equal Nadal's men's record of 21 Grand Slam titles, eased to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory in his last-16 tie against 15th seed ...

The pattern of the match continued, as Djokovic broke in the very next game to all but end the tie as a contest. Djokovic took his head-to-head record against Argentinian Schwartzman to 7-0 with a clinical display, in which he saved seven of the eight break points he faced. But I played well and held my serve."

Novak Djokovic showed glimpses of his brilliant best to demolish Diego Schwartzman 6-1 6-3 6-3 on Sunday and book his place in the French Open ...

"I have a lot of respect for him. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Nadal set to take on Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is coached by his uncle Toni.

"I don't think he will be able to want me to lose, without a doubt, but he's a professional and he's with another player. When Auger-Aliassime was asked if Uncle Toni would give him any insight into how to play Nadal, he downplayed it by saying that everybody knows how Nadal plays. I have zero problem with that," Nadal said.

Nadal finds better rhythym in this game, and dispatches Auger-Aliassime, who overpowers at least two shots to send them out, quickly.

Auger-Aliassime is forced to hit long, and Nadal takes the game with ease. Nadal faults, and Auger-Aliassime has the chance, as his opponent did, to break his serve. But Nadal can be bested, and a well-placed shot glances the wrong way, leaving Nadal unable to run for it. Nadal returns easily, and wins a point firing a shot down the line with the smallest effort to go 0-30 up. He sends another fault into the sideline, and Auger-Aliassime has another attempt to break from advantage. The timings he can draw out of his shots can leave opponents baffled, and he sets up Auger-Aliassime to miss a well-weighted, considered shot. He double faults, and Nadal has broken back to win the game. Since 2015, Nadal has been able to break back nearly 50% of the time after he is broken at Roland Garros, which is quite the challenge to meet. Nadal sends a shot out to bring the players level on 30 all. Auger-Aliassime opens the points, but Nadal, mostly on his second serve, stems his advance, but sends his next return long to level them at 30 all. Nadal plucks a high dropshot out of the air and smashes it, once to be returned, then again up and out over Auger-Aliassime's head. Auger-Aliassime delivers his second ace of the match to stop Nadal from making good on his break point.

Novak Djokovic topped Diego Schwartzman in straight sets at the French Open, doing his part to set up a potential quarterfinal showdown with Rafael Nadal.

And if 13-time French Open champion Nadal wins his fourth-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday, the two longtime rivals would meet each other in the quarterfinals. He won the title in 2016 and last year, part of his collection of 20 Grand Slam trophies. Djokovic has made the quarterfinals in Paris 13 years in a row.

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic showed glimpses of his brilliant best to demolish Diego Schwartzman 6-1 6-3 6-3 on Sunday and book h...

“I have a lot of respect for him. Always ready with a good serve when needed, the Serbian staved off break points in the next game to level for 3-3, took the 15th seed’s serve again and wrapped up set two after another break. But the Argentine was not ready to give up and he broke for 2-0 in the second set and held for 3-0 only for Djokovic to raise his level again to break back with a crosscourt forehand winner.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC WAS booed as he walked on to court and cupped his ear at a strangely-hostile crowd during his three-set win over Diego Schwartzman at the ...

I told Felix that my ethics do not allow me to give him advice on beating my nephew. “I’ve made a good start but I have a lot of work to do,” added Djokovic who will face Nadal for the 10th time at Roland Garros and 59th overall if the Spaniard defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday. But Djokovic gave the perfect response with a 6-1 6-3 6-3 demolition of the 15th seed to book his place in the quarter-finals.

PARIS - World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic reached a 16th French Open quarter-final on Sunday where old rival and 13-time winner Rafael ...

I told Felix that my ethics do not allow me to give him advice on beating my nephew. "Of course not. Amanda is a very good player but I was happy to win in front of you," said the 2019 junior champion. Alcaraz has won 20 of 21 matches on clay this season but needed to save a match point to beat Spanish compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round. "I've made a good start but I have a lot of work to do," added Djokovic who will face Nadal for the 10th time at Roland Garros and 59th overall if the Spaniard defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday. "I have a lot of respect for him (Schwartzman). He's a good person off the court," said Djokovic who has now beaten Schwartzman seven times in seven meetings.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC could face long-time rival Rafael Nadal in the French Open quarter-final.

The world No 1 also touched on the fact that he and his long-time rival will be requesting different sessions if they face off in Tuesday’s quarter-final, with the fifth seed preferring the day session conditions while Djokovic played better than Nadal at night. Djokovic and Nadal could face off for the 59th time in their careers in the French Open quarter final. And the Serb was feeling confident ahead of what could be his first meeting with Nadal in a year, after he downed the 13-time champion in four sets in the 2021 semi-final.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will meet in the Roland Garros quarterfinals on Tuesday. Here's a breakdown of their rivalry by the numbers.

21: After capturing the Australian Open in January, Nadal is the all-time men’s leader with 21 Grand Slam singles titles. He is seeking to extend his record with a 22nd major title, while Djokovic is looking to tie him at 21. Nadal broke in the eighth game of the fifth set and then served it out with a forehand winner into the open court after a short rally. I am glad because I didn’t spend too much time on the court, because it will be physical. The only thing I can guarantee is I’m going to fight until the end, so many thanks.” And the only thing that I can tell you is I’m going to be focused since [Monday], going to try my best as always.

Rafael Nadal won a Roland Garros thriller Sunday as he survived a major scare from Felix Auger-Aliassime to set a blockbuster quarter-final showdown with ...

I was able to play more aggressive and go more often to the net and it made a difference without a doubt.” The other seven all rose to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in their careers. He gained the crucial break in the eighth game before he held serve to secure his victory, letting out a roar in delight. Auger-Aliassime refused to go away though at the start of the fourth set, securing early breaks to swing momentum back in his favour as he hit 14 winners in the set and held his nerve to force a decider. He has a huge serve and I was not able to push him back. “The beginning of the fourth was very tough. With his victory, the 35-year-old has now reached the quarter-finals in 16 of his 18 appearances in Paris. Prior to Sunday, Nadal had been taken to five sets in just two of his 111 matches at the event. He reduced the unforced errors, targeting the World No. 9’s backhand with heavy topspin to dictate. The only thing I can guarantee is that I am going to fight until the end.” The Canadian’s flat hitting and depth forced Nadal into errors with the Canadian breaking twice to move ahead. However, the 13-time champion kept his composure and demonstrated his trademark winning mentality to advance after four hours and 23 minutes on a court he has had so much success on.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will play in the French Open quarterfinals after each won his fourth round match at Roland Garros.

I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else,” said Djokovic, who beat 15th-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 earlier Sunday and has won all 12 sets he’s played in the tournament. Looking at the larger picture, Nadal’s record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open.

Rafael Nadal got through a serious test in the French Open's fourth round by edging Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a record 59th ...

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are scheduled to play their fourth-round matches later in the day. He won the title in 2016 and last year, part of his collection of 20 Grand Slam trophies. And if 13-time French Open champion Nadal wins his fourth-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday, the two long-time rivals would meet each other in the quarterfinals. But she hasn’t been a member of the final eight players at any major tournament since losing in the quarterfinals in Paris three years ago. She broke Anisimova six times and now has won 23 of her opponents’ service games through four matches. Five American women made it to the round of 16 at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2003, and three are in action Sunday. Martina Trevisan of Italy has reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the second time in three appearances. Fernandez, the youngest player to win a WTA title in 2022, is seeded 17th at the French Open and will play Martina Trevisan of Italy next. The Canadian made a breakthrough last year at the U.S. Open by making it all the way to the final before losing to Emma Raducanu in a matchup between a pair of unseeded teenagers. Djokovic has made the quarterfinals in Paris 13 years in a row. He fell behind 3-0 in the second set but grabbed seven games in a row to take that set and a 1-0 lead in the third. Two of those three career defeats in Paris came against Djokovic, owner of 20 major titles and two at the French Open. Last year, Djokovic beat Nadal in the semifinals en route to the trophy.

PARIS — (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career French Open matches, as the sun and temperature descended and ...

I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else,” said Djokovic, who beat 15th-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 earlier Sunday and has won all 12 sets he's played in the tournament. Looking at the larger picture, Nadal's record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open. Overall he is 109-3 here, and two of those defeats came against Djokovic, including in last year's semifinals. I don't know what's going to happen, but the only thing I can guarantee is I am going to fight until the end.” “Of course we know each other well.

Novak Djokovic showed glimpses of his brilliant best to demolish Diego Schwartzman and book his place in the French Open quarter-finals where he will face ...

Available to download now on - iPhone & iPad and Android I felt every return was put on the baseline." He was playing the best tennis of his life, with the crowd supporting him. "We played three sets but we played three hours. "I am going to be focused, I will try my best. "I have a lot of respect for him.

Rafael Nadal won in five sets while his quarter-final opponent Novak Djokovic will be the fresher having beaten Diego Schwartzman in straight sets.

He peppered Nadal with well-timed drop shots, he continued to look for forehands to dominate with and he was supreme at the net. From the player who would run out of ideas in his early exchanges against the big players, here he continually searched for solutions and often found them. Just as it seemed that Nadal was in control, however, he inexplicably started the fourth set with a flurry of unforced errors. Nadal then rode all of his momentum to a two sets to one lead. He watched on as, after the elation of Real Madrid’s Champions League win that Nadal attended, on an extremely cold afternoon Nadal started the match out of sorts. Rafael Nadal has played 112 tennis matches at Roland Garros over the course of his career and he has somehow lost just three times on these courts.

Rafa Nadal overcame a sluggish start and a stiff challenge from Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime with an enthralling 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 win on ...

"The only thing I can tell you, I am going to be focused and try my best. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com "We know each other well," Nadal said of Djokovic. "We have a lot of history together. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com He came here after winning in Rome. For me, it was not an ideal situation to arrive here.

PARIS (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career French Open matches, as the sun and temperature descended and ...

I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else,” said Djokovic, who beat 15th-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 earlier Sunday and has won all 12 sets he's played in the tournament. Looking at the larger picture, Nadal's record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open.

Rafael Nadal reacts to his thrilling win against Felix Auger-Aliassime at Roland Garros and looks ahead to his quarter-final blockbuster against Novak ...

I hope to be able to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible.” Nadal is now a jaw-dropping 109-3 at Roland Garros, where he will face Djokovic for the 10th time and 59th time overall. “That's why I am just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream that is [to] keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros, playing against the World No. 1,” Nadal said. “I am in [the] quarter-finals of Roland Garros. Two weeks and a half ago, even if I had good hopes, positive hopes after Rome, I [didn’t even] know if I would be able to be here,” Nadal said. And being honest, every match that I play here, I don't know if [it is] going to be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career. It is easy to forget that Nadal missed a month-and-a-half after the BNP Paribas Open due to a stress fracture in one of his ribs.

Nadal beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets after Djokovic blew away Diego Schwartzmann.

When I played not that well, I had a lot of troubles. “All respect and credit to Felix, he’s playing better and better. The players will also have their say, and Nadal has already stated he does not like playing at night, while Djokovic smiled: “All I will say is Rafa and I would make different requests.” The first battle will need to be won before a ball is even struck. But when Auger-Aliassime took Nadal into a fifth set – for only the third time at Roland Garros – it was all too much for Nadal senior to bear, and he left. “He’s a great player without a doubt, one of the best in the world,” said Nadal after his 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 win. The gilded duo’s receptions were also in stark contract to each other; Nadal’s entrance and every point won were cheered to the rafters on Chatrier while, over on Lenglen, Djokovic was booed as he walked on to court and cupped his ear at a strangely hostile crowd.

Djokovic, the world No. 1, and Nadal, the 13-time French Open champion, will continue their epic rivalry on Tuesday in the quarterfinal at Roland Garros.

As Auger-Aliassime, pumped his fist after clinching the first set, 6-3, Nadal spent an extra few seconds working the line with his foot, taking an extra moment seemingly to prepare for the challenging places this match was going. Djokovic managed the challenge, making Schwartzman seem like a sparring partner who forced Djokovic to run and stay on the court long enough — a little more than two hours — but not too long. Nadal had no such concerns, though he struggled from the start of the chilly and breezy evening. Too cold and too damp, which makes the clay stick to balls, giving them the feel of heavy rocks on his racket. He was detained at the border and deported after government officials deemed his stance against vaccinations a threat to public health. Djokovic has tried to spearhead an independent players organization, the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he launched with a handful of other players in 2020. Nadal, who largely ended his 2021 season after the French Open because of a chronic foot injury, said finishing his career with the most major championships mattered little to him. Even more, it is a clash of two men whose personalities and trajectories, especially over the past year, have pushed them into different realms of the sport and public consciousness. On the court, they have captured each other’s most treasured possessions. Djokovic has refused to get vaccinated and questioned established science. Just a number. They have played each other 58 times, with Djokovic holding a 30-28 edge.

Rafael Nadal took his time but eventually kept his side of the bargain to set up the quarter-final showdown that will probably define this year's French ...

The first battle will need to be won before a ball is even struck. When I played not that well, I had a lot of troubles. "All respect and credit to Felix, he's playing better and better. It's Novak Djokovic. He has given us so much." "But the most important thing is that I played a good fifth set, and especially the last three or four games I played with the right dimensions, so I'm very happy for that. The Serbian has yet to drop a set in the tournament as he bids for a record-equalling 21st grand slam title.

Felix Auger-Aliassime reflects on his five-set loss against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and looks ahead to Nadal's blockbuster showdown against Novak ...

“I’m proud about the effort I produced, the game I played, and like most of my matches I try to leave the match without any regrets,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It makes me very happy to have won a few matches here this year.” Instead, Auger-Aliassime will try to move forward taking lessons he learned from the match and his entire stay at the clay-court major. “So as I said, I really wish him the very best, but it will be a monumental effort for him, I think, to win. At one point even though he raised the level of his game, there were a few dips, physically, mentally, and I kind of lost the order of the game. He's somebody who I really like, and so I wish him the very best for the next match,” Auger-Aliassime said.

Rafael Nadal got through a serious test in the French Open's fourth round by edging Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a record 59th ...

One member of the audience, however, did not stick around for the fifth set: Toni Nadal, who is Rafael’s uncle and coached him to 16 of his Grand Slam titles but now is helping coach Auger-Aliassime. Uncle Toni, as he’s known to many, stayed away from both players’ guest boxes — how could he choose a side? He has said repeatedly in Paris that he had no idea how well he’d be able to play. “These are special matches,” Nadal said. Looking at the larger picture, the formerly No. 1-ranked Nadal’s record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Nadal used increasingly aggressive tactics, moving forward when possible and pouncing on any short ball from his foe. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open. His movement was unhindered, his relentlessness intact. Zverev beat 131st-ranked qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-6 (11), 7-5, 6-3, and Alcaraz displayed a back-to-the-net, between-the-legs lob while wrapping up the day’s schedule with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 21 Karen Khachanov. Wrapped in souvenir orange French Open towels and blankets of various hues, spectators appreciated every last drop of drama, singing both players’ first names and rising to their feet to applaud the many spectacular exchanges. Overall he is 109-3 here, and two of those defeats came against Djokovic, including in last year’s semifinals in their most recent showdown. Since starting the season with a 20-0 record, including an Australian Open title in January when Djokovic was not allowed to participate because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, Nadal has dealt with a rib injury and a recurrence of the chronic pain in his left foot that has troubled him for years. PARIS — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career matches at Roland Garros, as the sun and temperature descended and the chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” filled the evening air, the man known as the King of Clay showed precisely what this meant to him.

After Djokovic cruised, Nadal labored to a five-set win, setting up a clash in the quarterfinals.

At that point, he later explained to a French broadcaster, he could take no more and had to leave to watch the conclusion on television. He produced huge serves time and again to fend off 16 of the 22 break points he faced. The victor’s next challenge could prove equally daunting: a potential semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish teen who beat Nadal and Djokovic in succession to win the recent Madrid Open on clay. After leveling at one set apiece, Nadal rounded into form in the third set, pummeling Auger-Aliassime with forehand blasts again and again. He has yet to concede a set in the first four rounds. Nadal didn’t cite the rib he cracked during a tournament in March and made only passing reference to “a tough process” with his foot, alluding to chronic pain in his surgically repaired left one.

Rafael Nadal admitted Sunday that his injury-hit career has forced him to contemplate that "every match I play here could be my last".

I am in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros. Two weeks and a half ago, I didn't know if I would be able to be here," said Nadal who won the first of his 13 French Open titles on debut in 2005. "So just enjoying the fact that I am here for one more year. "That's my situation now.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal had contrasting matches but still set up their hotly-anticipated quarter-final meeting. Defending champion Djokovic was ...

Moan of the day Match of the day Picture of the day

Rafael Nadal set up a blockbuster French Open quarter-final against world number one Novak Djokovic on Sunday when he defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in a ...

He's very young with a lot of power and great mobility," said the 35-year-old Spaniard. "We know each other well, we have a lot of history. "He is a great guy and a good colleague on the tour."