Paris (AFP)

One wants to take revenge, the other drive the point home.

Rafael Nadal and Diego Schwartzman meet on Friday in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, twenty days after the Argentinian victory in the quarter-finals in Rome.

Three weeks ago, that would have been David's fight against Goliath: Schwartzman 14th in the world, 3 titles in all and for everything, against Nadal, second best player in the world, 85 titles including 12 Musketeers Cups.

But that was before the Roman episode.

On September 19, the 28-year-old Argentine played "the best match of (his) career" and disposed of the Mallorcan in just two sets (6-2, 7-5) him who, in nine confrontations, did not had never beaten.

What destabilize the king of the clay?

Or on the contrary galvanize it?

The Spaniard arrived in Paris a little grumpy.

He who likes to string tournaments on clay before Roland Garros had only three matches since February.

- "Company of destabilization" -

The fall conditions reigning in the French capital and the new tournament balls, too heavy for his taste, did not help.

"It's too cold to play," the 34-year-old repeated Wednesday.

On the contrary, Schwartzman appears in great shape.

Confident after his first Masters 1000 final in Rome where he was beaten by Djokovic, the Argentinean would now like to do the same in Grand Slam: "In the past, I have often played well but I did not know take my chance. Now I do. "

There is no shortage of assets for this.

"Despite his small size (less than 1m70), he has the ability to hold the intensity of the game against Nadal," said Julien Benneteau, captain of the France Fed Cup team.

"He has a pretty bluffing game. With its variations, it is an enterprise of global destabilization on its own. It always strikes the right moment at the right time", analyzes Arnaud Di Pasquale, former DTN of French tennis.

Very mobile, the Argentinian runs on all the balls.

And arrives relatively serene against the Spaniard.

“I wouldn't say I'm totally confident. But I know this week I can beat him,” he said.

Against Thiem, Schwartzman has already shown that he would not let go, winning a fight lasting more than 5 hours!

"Modern clay tennis master class, gentlemen! Diego, you're very tall," Benneteau greeted on Twitter.

But precisely did he not leave too much energy?

In all, Schwartzman spent 13:34 on the Parisian courts, against 9:04 for Nadal.

"It will inevitably leave traces," said Di Pasquale, stressing that the Spaniard "had walked" to join the last four.

- Record to beat -

"He left very few games (and no set), despite the conditions he showed he was there," said the former French player.

Admittedly, his match against Sinner on Tuesday ended at 1:25 a.m. on Wednesday.

But he did not tremble for this first real test against the Italian nugget.

On Friday, humidity should still be there on the Philippe-Chartrier court.

Not really something to rejoice in Nadal, whose devastating lift hardly accommodates a leaden ocher.

And then, "this defeat in Rome, he will rethink it for sure," said Benneteau.

"But like all great champions, he was able to question himself. He will be even more vigilant", tempers Di Pasquale.

Because no matter the rain, the wind, or the storms, Nadal remains the "big favorite".

"Roland is his kingdom, he will defend it", underlines Benneteau.

“It's going to be hard to beat him, in Paris he's in another dimension,” adds Di Pasquale.

Especially since this year, the Spaniard arrives over-motivated.

Deprived of his 10th title in Rome, he will not want to miss a 13th Parisian crown.

And above all, there is no question for him to miss his chance to equal the record of Grand Slam titles of his great rival Roger Federer (20).

© 2020 AFP