“He brushed me off the court” Novak Djokovic admits Rafael Nadal was the ‘better player’ during their epic quarter-final clash in the 2022 French Open
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Novak Djokovic
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic‘s title defence at the 2022 French Open came to an end as he was defeated by World No. 5 and 13-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal in arguably one of the finest matches of the season. Nadal won the quarter-final clash against Novak 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) in a gripping 4 hour and 12 minute battle on the Philippe-Chatrier.
Given Nadal was coming to Paris fresh from an injury withdrawal in Rome and Djokovic on a 9-match winning streak that started in Rome, the match was poised for a great finish as, despite injury concerns, one cannot rule out Nadal easily in a claycourt match. With long games being played between the two as none of them gave up easy points, Nadal emerged victorious after successive 4-hour battles.
“Congratulations to Nadal. He was a better player I think in important moments. [He] started very well. I didn’t start so great, 2-6, 0-3, double break down. I was gaining momentum as I was coming back in the second set, managed to win the second set, and I thought, I’m back in the game. But then he had another two, three fantastic games at the beginning of the third.
“He was just able to take his tennis to another level in those, particularly moments at the beginning of all sets except the fourth. I had my chances in the fourth [set], served for the set, couple of set points. Just one or two shots could have taken me into a fifth. Then it’s really anybody’s match. But again he showed why he’s a great champion. Staying mentally tough and finishing the match the way he did. Congrats to him and his team. No doubt he deserved it.
“I had my chances. I gave my best. I know I could have played better. I’m proud of fighting and staying until the last shot. As I said, I lost to a better player today. Had my chances. Didn’t use them. That’s it. Over four hours of battle and I have to accept this defeat. I don’t agree that I benefit more from these conditions when meeting Nadal. We played in 2020 in similar conditions and he brushed me off the court.” said Djokovic during his press conference in yet another honest interview.
Novak Djokovic’s World No. 1 rank under threat
With the defeat to Nadal, Djokovic will take a big hit in his ranking points as he was the defending champion. With World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev already making a fourth-round exit, he is in no way capable to ascend to the top of the ranking at the end of the Grand Slam but that is not the threat for Djokovic at the moment.
With World No. 3 Alexander Zverev seeing off Carlos Alcaraz in a crunch 4-set battle prior to the Djokovic-Nadal match, the German is back in the semi-finals, a repeat of his result in the 2021 French Open. If Sascha manages to get past Nadal in the semis and wins the title on Sunday, 5th June, he will become the 28th man and the second German after Boris Becker to become the World no. 1.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)