Semifinals Nadal and Djokovic's wear: "I've had a very tough week too, whatever happens will happen"
Novak Djokovic
will keep a painful memory of his last meeting with
Rafael Nadal
, number 56 in a series that he dominates 29-27. Then, in the final of Roland Garros, on October 11, in apparently unfavorable circumstances for the Spaniard, the world number one fell 6-0, 6-2 and 7-5. Since that final, Djokovic has won his ninth Australian Open and, with 18 majors, remains in the fight with Nadal and
Roger Federer
, both with 20, to end his career as the player with the most Grand Slam titles. Nadal took the Count of Godó and tunes his racket to revalidate his credit in Paris.
Both will star this Sunday (5:00 p.m., Let's go) in their sixth final at the Masters 1000 in Rome. Nadal, a nine-time champion, won three, those of 2009, 2018 and 2019. Djokovic, who took the title five times, won two, those of 2011 and 2014. The Serbian, who was set and
break
down against
Tsitsipas
when the quarterfinal match was postponed due to the rain on Friday, it had a double session on Saturday. Before Nadal claimed a place in the final match thanks to his victory by a 6-4 double against
Reilly Opelka
, he turned the duel against the Greek, who ended up winning 4-6, 7-5 and 7- 5. Knowing who his opponent would be if he won a place in the final, he defeated Italian
Lorenzo Sonego
, winner against
Andrey Rublev
in the other quarterfinal match.
The Serbian won 6-3, 6-7 (5) and 6-2, in two hours and 44 minutes, at 9:22 at night, almost four after Nadal's victory.
He had two match points to resolve the match in two sets, but was forced to go extra in a day where he once again showed his extraordinary competitive character.
Tension and physical demand
"We are prepared and I have had a very hard week. I do not think that what happens today [for this Saturday] in the tournament will have a decisive impact tomorrow [for this Sunday]. I have spent many hours of tension and physical and mental demands as well. . I carry a lot with me and I will have to play my best game if I want to win, "Nadal said in the press conference after his victory, still without knowing who his opponent would be. The world number three has set course after a tough debut against
Jannik Sinner
and a second-round match, against
Denis Shapovalov
, in which he escaped two
match points
. In addition to winning for the twelfth time in Barcelona, he comes from being a quarter-finalist in Monte Carlo and Madrid. Djokovic fell to
Daniel Evans
in the second round of the Principality, against
Aslan Karatsev
in the semi-finals of Belgrade and he left the Mutua at the last minute.
The land was never the surface most prone to succumb to its charms.
If Nadal has been close to the canvas, the Serbian did not go too far either.
Against Tsitsipas he displayed all his talent to neutralize four balls that would have put him 4-1 down in the third set: two drops, a dribble soon near the tape and an
ace
brought him back to life in a game of more than 11 minutes.
The one from Athens had another option to reach 6-5 and serve.
Nole put
out all the fires.
Back to the old order after four Masters 1000 finals with non-
Big Three
stars
.
At Paris-Bercy, in 2020, it was
Medvedev
and
Rublev
.
In Miami,
Hurkacz
and
Sinner
.
In Monte Carlo, Tsitsipas and Rublev.
And in Madrid,
Zverev
and
Berrettini
.
This Sunday, Nadal
vs
Djokovic, with Roland Garros just around the corner.
The Balkan has won 36 Masters 1000s, one more than his rival.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Roland Garros
tennis
TennisNadal and Djokovic's wear: "I've had a very hard week too, whatever happens will happen"
TennisNadal overwhelms Alcaraz in the generational confrontation between Spaniards
InterviewStefanos Tsitsipas: "I have a romantic side"
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