For a place in the final, he will face the world No.3 Alexander Zverev, who beat the Spanish phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz.

Even with a far from ideal preparation, Nadal, like at home on Parisian clay where he triumphed thirteen times, had promised to "try with all his might".

He clung to his profession of faith until the night of Tuesday to Wednesday to bite the dust at the world No.1 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) in 4h12 min.

Not without having discarded two fifth set balls.

A fatigue fracture to a rib two months before Roland-Garros?

A season on ocher launched later than ever?

A new blow ten days before the Parisian Grand Slam when his left foot, eaten away by an illness he describes as "chronic and incurable" since he was 18, betrayed him once again?

A fight of almost four and a half hours in five rounds 48 hours before attacking Djokovic?

Novak Djokovic leaves the field after his defeat against Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros in Paris on June 1, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

Nothing, ever, is impossible for the Mallorcan champion with a thousand injuries and a thousand and one rebirths, who will celebrate his 36th birthday on Friday.

How to take the measure of this 59th face-to-face between the two giants who have maintained for sixteen years the rivalry that has become the most prolific in men's tennis?

End of series for Alcaraz

This is the first match between two players at the head of a collection of at least 20 Grand Slam trophies (21 for Nadal, 20 for Djokovic).

The first also between two players who have accumulated over their exceptional careers more than 1000 victories on the circuit and more than 300 in Grand Slam.

Rafael Nadal facing Novak Djokovic at Roland-Garros in Paris on June 1, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

For a time, for almost an hour and a half, Nadal, the whole stadium or almost won over to his cause, went it alone: ​​until leading 6-2, 3-0 double break, he recited his tennis as in a dream.

Djokovic, of course, recovered, and a 6-1 inflicted on "Rafa" later, the two players were level one set everywhere.

Still fiercely determined despite the passage of time, the Spaniard returned to battle as if nothing had happened.

After three hours of play, it was he who took the lead, two sets to one.

But even after midnight, even after three hours of play, even back to the wall, "Nole" did not give up.

At 5 games to 4, he twice passed within a point of a fifth inning.

In vain.

Because no one has a head as hard as the Mallorcan left-hander, finally victorious in the decisive game.

Rafael Nadal after his victory over Novak Djokovic at Roland-Garros in Paris on June 1, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

Djokovic will not join Nadal in the number of Grand Slam crowns at the end of this 2022 edition of Roland-Garros.

"Rafa" even has an opportunity to escape in the lead.

Earlier, it was Alcaraz's dream of winning a first Grand Slam trophy just two months after turning 19 that vanished.

Presented as a serious contender for the trophy after his hair-raising spring - an ambition assumed by the young Spaniard, already world No.6 at 19 - he was stopped by Zverev, winner 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7 -6 (9/7) after failing to convert a fifth-set ball in the tie-break.

From Barcelona to Paris, via Madrid, the young Murcian remained on a series of fourteen matches won consecutively.

First for Gauff

But Zverev, powerless in early May in the final in the Spanish capital (6-3, 6-1) against the fury of Alcaraz, took his revenge on clay in Paris.

"I told him he was going to win this tournament not once, but many times. I hope I can win it before he starts beating us all and we have no chance." , joked the 25-year-old German, still in search of a first Grand Slam title.

However, Zverev did not avoid a few scares: first when he was very feverish - two second balls at 119 km / h and 133 km / h punished by two winning returns - and was unbroken when he was serving for the match at 5-4, then when Alcaraz got a fifth set ball at 6 points at 5 in the decisive game.

German Alexander Zverev after his victory over Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Roland-Garros on May 31, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

"I got over it," said the tall German (1.98 m), already semi-finalist in Paris a year ago.

In the women's draw, the American Coco Gauff, promised since adolescence to a great future, was invited for the first time in the semi-finals of a major tournament, at 18, at the expense of her compatriot Sloane Stephens (64th ) 7-5, 6-2 .

The American Coco Gauff facing her compatriot Sloane Stephens at Roland-Garros on May 31, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Like the Italian Martina Trevisan, 59th in the world at 28, fell 6-2, 6-7 (7/3), 6-3 from the Canadian Leylah Fernandez (18th).

© 2022 AFP