13-time champion Rafael Nadal stunned defending champion Novak Djokovic in the French Open 2022 quarterfinals in another episode of an epic battle between the two greatest players of all time on Tuesday, May 31.
Nadal defied all doubts about his fitness with an incredible tennis performance against Djokovic, who didn’t miss a set until he met his arch-rival at this year’s clay-court Grand Slam. Nadal defeated Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) in a match that began in May and ended in June (local time).
With a avenging victory in the 2021 semi-final loss, Nadal began a semi-final battle with world number three Alexander Zverev, who knocked out teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the day.
No. 22 for Nadal?
Nadal extended his incredible record to 110-3 at Roland Garros after the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Two of those losses came against Novak Djokovic, including one in last year’s semifinal.
With the win, Nadal is set to clinch his 22nd Grand Slam title, taking a 2 major lead over Djokovic and Roger Federer. The Spaniard also blocked Djokovic’s bid to win back-to-back Roland Garros titles, placing him on 20.
It’s unbelievable how Nadal keeps coming back to Roland Garros and magically performing tennis on red dirt. A few months ago, there were doubts about whether Nadal would play at the French Open as he was given six weeks off due to a rib injury. When he came back, he was not at his best as he was troubled by a chronic leg injury that had flared up in Madrid and then Rome.
@Rafael Nadal #Roland Garros pic.twitter.com/xY7bD2EuSo
— roland-garros (@rolandgarros) 31 May 2022
‘It was special’
However, there were no signs of injury concerns as Nadal, who will turn 36 on Friday, came up with an incredible level of tennis against the world No. The level he displayed in the final 30 minutes of the fourth set to bounce back from the opening break and win the tie-breaker took fans down memory lane.
Nadal said, “It was really special. It was a very tough match, Novak is one of the best players in history, and we have all of history. There’s only one way to beat Novak and that’s to do your best.” ” During an on-court interview after his win.
“And today was a magical night for me. Unexpected levels from me.”
Nadal has a good chance of making 2 in 2 this year as the Spaniard won the Australian Open earlier this year.
Nadal also brushed off the noise surrounding his reluctance to play the night’s matches at Philippe Chattier by beating the best in the business in a match that began after 8:30 p.m. local time.
Nadal won the opening set 6–2, maintaining a very high win percentage on his serve as he overtook Djokovic with an early burst. He was 3-0 up in the second set and looked like he would bury the ghosts of 2021, but the Serb, known to have an infinite store of patience, bounced back and won the second set 6-4. took.
As the momentum shifted in Djokovic’s favour, it was Nadal’s turn to fight back and win the third set 6-4.
However, Nadal found himself in a difficult position when he broke early in the fourth set. Nonetheless, the Spaniard didn’t let Djokovic get away with it and created an incredible level of tennis that was great even for the Serb.