June 01, (THEWILL) – Rafael Nadal won another epic French Open match against Novak Djokovic, moving one step closer to a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title and on his most favourite surface.
Nadal, a 13-time champion in Paris, won their tense quarter-final 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(3), a match that lasted four hours and 12 minutes and ended at 1.15 a.m. French time. But, the score failed to capture what was a remarkable match, the 59th in the rivalry between two of the best in the sport.
It was a match that featured several titanic games, jaw-dropping hitting, fluctuating shifts in momentum, Nadal leading by a double break in all three sets, an 84-minute second set, and Djokovic spurning two set points to force a decider – all played out in a pulsating atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier, even as the temperature dropped late at night.
The first game set the tone, lasting 10 minutes and featuring an engrossing 22-shot rally before Djokovic netted to give Nadal the early break. The Spaniard did not let up until he won the first set, but Djokovic stepped up his game to win the second. However, in the third set, the world number one appeared to be a different player than the one who had won the second, as the mistake count began to rise again, with Nadal winning the set on a reckless missed forehand.
With the Chatrier crowd cheering him on, Nadal stepped on the accelerators and found Djokovic wanting. In the end, Nadal triumphed, raising his arms in triumph as he qualified for the final four, where he will take on Alexander Zverev.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
