Will the Central public necessarily be behind Nadal against Djokovic?

• Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic meet this Tuesday in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros.

• The Spaniard, 13 times Porte d'Auteuil winner, enjoys a huge popularity rating with the public, generally harder with the Serb.

• Except that last year's epic semi-final between the two men, in special conditions at night, could be the beginning of a change in favor of the world number 1.

At Roland Garros,

We know one who must have been happy when the schedule for the quarter-final clash between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was announced on Tuesday.

We are talking about the Serbian player himself, of course.

Not only is his opponent more vulnerable in the evening, but the world number 1 can also hope for an audience that is more divided in his encouragement than he would have known in the afternoon.

The night sessions attract a different, younger crowd, which likes provocativeness and asperities.

And therefore not necessarily devoted to the "nice Rafa" in his fight against the "nasty Djoko".

It's not for nothing that the Serb had "the best moment" of his career at Roland in the semi-final last year, against the same opponent and in the same night conditions.

There had been the gigantic intensity of this meeting, of course, but also for the first time this impression of being supported at the height of his status.

He had said after his victory in the final how much these encouragements had touched him.

This lack of popularity compared to Nadal and Federer is a subject as recurrent as it is sensitive for Djokovic.

Difficult to know if, as he says, he has fully integrated it and that he lives with it or if he is still running after everything despite everything.

This is where we remember a particularly interesting conversation between the world number 1 and Stan Wawrinka during a live on Instagram organized by the Swiss during the first confinement, in April 2020. The two men had come to talk about this story.

“I thought it was unfair, admitted Djoko.

When I arrived I said I wanted to be number 1. People were like, 'who is he to challenge Rafa and Roger?'

It was me against the rest of the world.

“Wawrinka then had this brilliant repartee, which sums up the situation perfectly: “In a film, you can't have three good guys, you have to have someone against.

So go for the role of the

.

“He knew how to move forward in adversity”

That's how the Serb was built, too.

“He loves when the public is against him.

It motivates him, it wakes him up, it brings out the fire he has in him, ”said the former 8th world player Marcos Baghdatis, crossed Monday at the launch of the Legends tournament.

“I still remember a Wimbledon final against Federer [in 2019] where the crowd was chanting 'Roger, Roger' but in their head they were hearing 'Novak, Novak'.

It's true that he needs that, ”adds Henri Leconte.

Djokovic then explained that he had won that day “the toughest match mentally” of his career.

“It may seem bizarre, almost perverse to you.

But it's like that.

I tried to convince myself that she was screaming at me.

It's a mental exercise,” he said.

But are we still at this level of animosity today?

From a tennis point of view, no.

Everyone ended up recognizing his genius, in a style certainly less flashy than the other two, less colorful, but damn effective and above all flawless.

As for the sympathy rating, that's another thing.

His incredible expulsion from Australia at the start of the year did not help matters, like his positions since assumed against the vaccine.

But beware, this is also what motivates the people who admire him.

Not on the vaccine itself, but on this assertive, less polished and model student side.

In the appeal to our readers launched on our site to find out if they were "rather Nadal or Djokovic", it was almost 50-50 in the answers.

“And to think that some whistle the best player in the world, deplores for example Rachel.

No offense to many, Djoko is an intelligent boy and so atypical.

“He deserves more consideration and respect,” agrees Céline.

We also give you

the rich and well-argued testimony of Lucas:

“Although I have great admiration for Nadal, I prefer Djokovic.

Firstly because he has managed to find a place for himself among the three tennis monsters of the last 20 years, sometimes surpassing them.

In the last 15 years he has played legendary matches against his two rivals that will mark me for life.

I must also admit that I like his "bad boy" side (very cartoonish, and cartoonish, because when you dig the man looks just as good as Nadal or Fed), who knew how to move forward in adversity (hostile public, sporting or extra-sporting hardships) and feeding on difficult times.

I find it fascinating about him.

In good or bad times, he cannot leave anyone indifferent.

»

“Nadal respects his opponents and health regulations”

On the side of the many pro-Nadal, the great classic.

The Spaniard is loved "for his kindness, his humility and his exemplary behavior on the pitch", summarizes Cédric.

"Rafa without hesitation: simple, combative, he has embodied the legend of tennis for several years," says Julien.

“He respects his opponents and the health regulations”, criticizes Jean-Marc in mirror.

Before Tuesday's meeting, we must all the same remember that the king of Roland was abused for years by the public of Roland, when he was seen as the one who would prevent

the handsome Rodgeur from winning Porte d'Auteuil.

"The Parisian public is stupid", even swung Toni after his nephew's defeat against Robin Soderling in 2009. "I'm used to hearing the names of my opponents come from the stands when I play, had commented on the 'interested.

It's true that it's a shame that in a tournament where I had so many great moments, the public never had a gesture for me.

Yes, Nadal once said that.

But the Spaniard was finally able to reverse this kind of French tradition which wants that we do not like those who win too often.

Our file on Roland-Garros

Everything is open for the shock that we hope will live up to expectations tonight.

In fact, the behavior of the spectators will certainly depend on the scenario.

Among the most likely, the one where Nadal, with sore feet and heavy legs after his five sets against Auger-Aliassime on Sunday, quickly finds himself in difficulty.

“The public can be an extraordinary asset for Nadal because he will need that, projects Henri Leconte.

In any case, I think the Central can crack.

Who will light the breach?

Sport

Roland-Garros 2022: The Cornelian choice of the programming of the Djokovic-Nadal shock

Sport

Roland Garros 2022: The Nadal statue wavered, but did not fall

• Sport

• Tennis

• Roland Garros 2022

• Rafael Nadal

• Novak Djokovic