“May the best player win”- Novak Djokovic all set for an intense ‘physical battle’ with Rafael Nadal
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Novak Djokovic
The world’s eyes will be on Paris on Tuesday evening as Rafael Nadal, the 13-time French Open winner, takes on Novak Djokovic at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Stade Roland Garros. The game will be played in the evening session and will begin at 12:15 a.m. IST.
Despite a longstanding injury and extreme discomfort in his foot, Nadal won the 2022 French Open in straight sets in the first three rounds. Felix Auger Aliassime of Canada, on the other hand, pushed him to his utmost in the fourth round. In the end, the Spaniard triumphed in a thrilling five-set battle to advance to the championship quarter-final against Djokovic.
Due to his COVID-19 vaccination status, the Serbian was forced to skip this year’s Australian Open and is hoping to make a great recovery in the year’s second grand slam. Djokovic hasn’t dropped a set in the event thus far, winning all four of his games in three sets.
“There are no secrets”- Novak Djokovic
Before his match with the Spaniard, Novak Djokovic said, “I wasn’t thinking too much on the beginning of the tournament advance you know. You always have to think about overcoming your next challenge, next match and play very well, so fine in the tournament and hopefully, I can keep going.”
“There are no secrets. He knows my game very well and I know his game very well. We played here some epic matches over the years. You know last year again, over four hours and four sets. It’s always a physical battle against him and let the better player win, “ he added.
Nadal will be out for vengeance after Djokovic ended his amazing dominance at the French Open last year in the semi-final. After defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final, the world number one won Roland Garros for the second time in 2021.
Djokovic will also be aiming to eliminate Nadal from the competition and tie him for the most Grand Slam triumphs with 21. After winning the 2022 Australian Open, Rafael Nadal surpassed Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as the male player with the most slam victories. After winning Wimbledon last year, Djokovic moved level with Nadal and Federer, but he missed out on a chance to win his 21st Major after losing in the US Open final.
In the year’s sole clay-court Grand Slam, the two have faced each other nine times, with Nadal winning seven times. Overall, Djokovic holds a 30-28 lead in their head-to-head match.
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Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)