After three weeks of competition, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic find themselves once again in the final of the French Open.

A match where Nadal leaves slightly favorite, but where Djokovic can seize his chance.

Even if beyond the performance on the Philippe-Chatrier court, it will be the figures that will be observed: many records can be broken. 

A duel at the top.

Sunday afternoon, from 3 p.m. on the Philippe-Chatrier court, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the two best players on the circuit, will compete to win Roland Garros.

If he wins, Rafael Nadal will win his 100th victory at Roland Garros and his 13th tournament in Paris, in 13 finals.

If Novak Djokovic wins, then the Serbian will become the first player of the Open era (since 1968) to win twice in each of the Grand Slam tournaments, and the first to beat the Spaniard in the final. on clay.

Nadal vs Djokovic: the war of numbers

Other key figures were cited before this match: Novak Djokovic has the opportunity to get closer to Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slam titles (in 31 finals), while Rafael Nadal has the opportunity to match him.

Obviously, this context will weigh on the meeting, according to the consultant of Europe 1 Cédric Pioline.

"This is called 'the pressure': All this is played out in a handkerchief! The one who wins is also the one who will manage best to manage and, somewhere, to ignore these issues in order to be totally focused on the game, on tennis, on the match, ”he explains. 

Nadal favorite, but Djokovic can take his chance

However, for Cédric Pioline, the title holder, Rafael Nadal is slightly favorite.

"Now we are talking about Novak Djokovic anyway!"

Eliminated in the round of 16 at the US Open this year for a bad gesture, Novak Djokovic wants to win.

"He will have to play his best tennis, because there is obviously the possibility", explains Cédric Pioline.

Indeed, with a low temperature and weather conditions (humidity, wind, etc.) unique in autumn, the levels will be slightly leveled.

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Clay will be made "heavier" and the balls will be slower.

Thus, Nadal's lifts will take a little less and the ball will arrive a little more where Djokovic likes, at the level of the hip, analyzes our consultant.

This match therefore promises to be a great show, to be followed as a common thread on the antenna of Europe 1, as have been many clashes on the central this year (Gaston-Thiem and Thiem-Schwartzman in particular)

Nadal-Djokovic, a classic 

Beyond the stake of the final of a Grand Slam, a clash between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic remains a classic to be seen.

Since 2006, the two have faced each other 55 times, with a slight advantage for the Serbian who has 29 wins.

During their first meeting, already at Roland Garros (in the quarter-finals), Novak Djokovic had given up after two sets, won by Nadal.