Quarterfinals Goodbye to Alcaraz against a refined Zverev
Alcaraz's peace with Paris "I felt very loved"
There are already 110 victories and 13 titles in this venue where his effigy looks, but, without in any way diminishing dazzling performances, which there were and many, it is now difficult to find an exhibition like the one carried out yesterday by
Rafael Nadal
for more than four hours against
Novak Djokovic
, the number 1 in the world and the player who is chasing him in the exciting race to finish with the greatest number of summits crowned.
When some indications, backed by the words of Nadal himself, pointed to his definitive decline in the tournament that continues to govern as no one will ever do, the Spaniard carried out an almost perfect representation, whose consequences only the pride and quality of his opponent he was able to tone down to lead the dispute to moments of extraordinary intensity on both fronts.
More constant and accurate in his proposal, the Spaniard prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 [4] against the defender of the title to establish himself as the maximum candidate to win his fourteenth title next Sunday and twenty-second Grand Slam, after winning the Australian Open earlier this year.
bullfighting acoustics
Few times since he debuted in the tournament in 2005 has Nadal felt the fervor of the fans during a match so intense.
The cries of "Rafa, Rafa, Rafa!"
they followed one another among the most enthusiastic voices of the 14,800 people who filled the Central since before he took an early advantage by taking advantage of his third breaking ball, accompanied on occasions by inappropriate bullfighting acoustics.
His start was amazing.
Djokovic saw no way to score points, turning to drop shots not as a weapon, but as a desperate expedient.
He prayed the statistic that the winner of the first set had won 50 of his 58 matches, including 15 of the last 16, even if it was not the case in last year's semifinal.
Short of preparation, affected by physical problems a few weeks ago, coming from a tough round of 16 match against
Felix Auger-Aliassime
and in a schedule that favored the conditions of his opponent, Nadal started with enormous success and determination, remembering the 2020 final , disputed in up to a certain point homologous atmospheric circumstances.
He then he went over Djokovic with enormous force.
If on that occasion, he came out with a 6-0, this time he escaped with an also conclusive 6-2.
The one from Belgrade, who presented himself as champion in Rome, with 22 consecutive sets won since the Foro Italico and 11 consecutive victories at Roland Garros, sat in the chair confused, looking for solutions that did not come.
Nadla, who turns 36 this Friday, was pure ballet, she danced for Philippe-Chatrier with the skill of his best days, found the lines and kept Nole on permanent alert.
There was not a single concession for the Balkan, who tried in vain to defend his fate in the very long first game of the second set, resolved at the seventh break threat.
Forced return from Djokovic during the match at the Philippe Chatrier.AP
Forced to do everything, the tennis player from Belgrade reacted.
Nadal, who had gone 3-0, tried to hang on to the sixth game as if his life depended on it, but Nole managed to match three by taking advantage of his fifth bullet, in another prolonged dispute.
The Spaniard stopped the bleeding of four consecutive lost games and equalized at four.
But the exalted character of his performance was difficult to sustain.
Djokovic had taken a step forward, much more aggressive with the rest, and took advantage of his second ball in the tenth game to equalize a set.
Far from accusing the blow, Nadal went to the locker room and returned like a cyclone, to take the first two games and put on track a set that closed with unexpected ease.
It was not the denouement, although he might seem so.
It was a quarterfinal match, but both knew that there was much more at stake, that the winner acquired many tickets to take the cup.
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tennis
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic