Nadal

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal would each "make totally different requests" in regards to a day or night match if they are to end up facing off in Paris.

"All of a sudden he [Djokovic] loses to Alcaraz [in Madrid], what’s happening? All of a sudden, they go to Australia where everyone is saying Novak is going to break the record and guess what? Novak has a way of fuelling these situations into something positive - that is very hard to do. Well, he wins Rome; now it looks like, there is Novak Djokovic - he’s back! Slight, very slight!" "I don't think we have to worry a whole lot about Rafa at Roland-Garros, if you look at his record, it's crazy, it's insane how good it is.

Novak Djokovic topped Diego Schwartzman in straight sets at the French Open, doing his part to set up a potential quarterfinal showdown with Rafael Nadal.

And if 13-time French Open champion Nadal wins his fourth-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday, the two longtime rivals would meet each other in the quarterfinals. He won the title in 2016 and last year, part of his collection of 20 Grand Slam trophies. Djokovic has made the quarterfinals in Paris 13 years in a row.

Iga Swiatek is a huge fan of Rafael Nadal. In the press conference during Roland Garros, the Pole said how Rafa has influenced her game, she is not trying ...

Fresh from a long stop due to injury and arrived in Melbourne without great expectations, the Spanish champion has made one of the most unexpected feats of his entire career. During the semifinal of the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, he suffered a stress fracture in a rib that forced him to miss the first appointments on red. That doesn't mean I spend my days writing down every detail of his game in a notebook and then trying to imitate him.

Watch a Rafael Nadal vs Felix Auger Aliassime live stream to see if the 13-time French Open champion can win at Roland-Garros again.

Canadians can watch the Rafael Nadal vs Felix Auger Aliassime match on TSN (in English) or RSN (in French), as part of a cable TV package. Plus, if you don't already have Amazon Prime itself, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of that at the same time. Not in Australia right now? Sling TV (opens in new tab) offers two packages, both of which cost $35 a month. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Australian service, you'd select Australia from the list. NBC can be accessed with one of the best TV antennas, while the Tennis Channel is available in some cable packages. Don't worry about the fact that there are two channels listed; Eurosport is being rolled into Discovery Plus, so it won't matter which you subscribe to. But what if you're usually based in one of those countries but aren't at home for a particular French Open live stream? They're totally legal, inexpensive and easy to use. And if he does win, he'll probably face Novak Djokovic in the next round. Then again, Nadal won his 21st Grand Slam in Australia, and remains the favorite here. Look no further than a VPN, or virtual private network.

RAFAEL NADAL went down during a rally against Felix Auger-Aliassime after dropping the first set.

It came after Nadal lost the first set 6-3 in almost an hour - the first set he has dropped all tournament. The 13-time French Open champion cleaned himself up quickly before the next point and was back to it, not requiring medical attention with the bloodflow stemmed. Rafael Nadal's right knee started bleeding after he took a tumble when trying to return one of Felix Auger-Aliassime's shots early in the second set of their fourth-round clash.

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic showed glimpses of his brilliant best to demolish Diego Schwartzman 6-1 6-3 6-3 on Sunday and book h...

“I have a lot of respect for him. Always ready with a good serve when needed, the Serbian staved off break points in the next game to level for 3-3, took the 15th seed’s serve again and wrapped up set two after another break. But the Argentine was not ready to give up and he broke for 2-0 in the second set and held for 3-0 only for Djokovic to raise his level again to break back with a crosscourt forehand winner.

Novak Djokovic set up a possible quarterfinal meeting with old rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open with an impressive straight-sets victory over Diego ...

Schwartzman saved a match point in game eight to force Djokovic to serve it out, which he did, to love. The pattern of the match continued, as Djokovic broke in the very next game to all but end the tie as a contest. Djokovic took his head-to-head record against Argentinian Schwartzman to 7-0 with a clinical display, in which he saved seven of the eight break points he faced.

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic reached a 16th French Open quarter-final on Sunday where old rival and 13-time winner Rafael Nadal ...

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Novak Djokovic set up a possible quarter-final meeting with old rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open with an impressive straight-sets victory over Diego ...

Schwartzman saved a match point in game eight to force Djokovic to serve it out, which he did, to love. The pattern of the match continued, as Djokovic broke in the very next game to all but end the tie as a contest. Djokovic took his head-to-head record against Argentinian Schwartzman to 7-0 with a clinical display, in which he saved seven of the eight break points he faced.

Rafael Nadal won a Roland Garros thriller Sunday as he survived a major scare from Felix Auger-Aliassime to set a blockbuster quarter-final showdown with ...

I was able to play more aggressive and go more often to the net and it made a difference without a doubt.” The other seven all rose to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in their careers. He gained the crucial break in the eighth game before he held serve to secure his victory, letting out a roar in delight. Auger-Aliassime refused to go away though at the start of the fourth set, securing early breaks to swing momentum back in his favour as he hit 14 winners in the set and held his nerve to force a decider. He has a huge serve and I was not able to push him back. “The beginning of the fourth was very tough. With his victory, the 35-year-old has now reached the quarter-finals in 16 of his 18 appearances in Paris. Prior to Sunday, Nadal had been taken to five sets in just two of his 111 matches at the event. He reduced the unforced errors, targeting the World No. 9’s backhand with heavy topspin to dictate. The only thing I can guarantee is that I am going to fight until the end.” The Canadian’s flat hitting and depth forced Nadal into errors with the Canadian breaking twice to move ahead. However, the 13-time champion kept his composure and demonstrated his trademark winning mentality to advance after four hours and 23 minutes on a court he has had so much success on.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will meet in the Roland Garros quarterfinals on Tuesday. Here's a breakdown of their rivalry by the numbers.

21: After capturing the Australian Open in January, Nadal is the all-time men’s leader with 21 Grand Slam singles titles. He is seeking to extend his record with a 22nd major title, while Djokovic is looking to tie him at 21. Nadal broke in the eighth game of the fifth set and then served it out with a forehand winner into the open court after a short rally. I am glad because I didn’t spend too much time on the court, because it will be physical. The only thing I can guarantee is I’m going to fight until the end, so many thanks.” And the only thing that I can tell you is I’m going to be focused since [Monday], going to try my best as always.

Rafael Nadal qualifies for the quarterfinals after a tough battle with the Canadian and will face Novak Djokovic in a historic duel.

My name is Manuel Carmona Hidalgo and I will be your antifrió n for this match. Before playing the Grand Slam he defended the crown at the ATP Rome but the discomfort in the round of 16 against Shapavalov deprived him of advancing in the Italian tournament despite winning the first set 6-1. In the last grand slam he played, the Canadian tennis player was eliminated by the number 2, Medvedev in the quarterfinals. 4º Set Rafael Nadal (3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6) Auger Aliassame 5º Set Rafael Nadal (3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3) Auger Aliassame See you all again!

PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament (all times local):. 8:45 p.m.. Rafael Nadal got through a serious test in the ...

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are scheduled to play their fourth-round matches later in the day. He won the title in 2016 and last year, part of his collection of 20 Grand Slam trophies. And if 13-time French Open champion Nadal wins his fourth-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday, the two long-time rivals would meet each other in the quarterfinals. But she hasn't been a member of the final eight players at any major tournament since losing in the quarterfinals in Paris three years ago. She broke Anisimova six times and now has won 23 of her opponents’ service games through four matches. Five American women made it to the round of 16 at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2003, and three are in action Sunday. Martina Trevisan of Italy has reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the second time in three appearances. Fernandez, the youngest player to win a WTA title in 2022, is seeded 17th at the French Open and will play Martina Trevisan of Italy next. The Canadian made a breakthrough last year at the U.S. Open by making it all the way to the final before losing to Emma Raducanu in a matchup between a pair of unseeded teenagers. Djokovic has made the quarterfinals in Paris 13 years in a row. He fell behind 3-0 in the second set but grabbed seven games in a row to take that set and a 1-0 lead in the third. Two of those three career defeats in Paris came against Djokovic, owner of 20 major titles and two at the French Open. Last year, Djokovic beat Nadal in the semifinals en route to the trophy.

PARIS — (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career French Open matches, as the sun and temperature descended and ...

I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else,” said Djokovic, who beat 15th-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 earlier Sunday and has won all 12 sets he's played in the tournament. Looking at the larger picture, Nadal's record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open. Overall he is 109-3 here, and two of those defeats came against Djokovic, including in last year's semifinals. I don't know what's going to happen, but the only thing I can guarantee is I am going to fight until the end.” “Of course we know each other well.

Rafael Nadal won in five sets while his quarter-final opponent Novak Djokovic will be the fresher having beaten Diego Schwartzman in straight sets.

He peppered Nadal with well-timed drop shots, he continued to look for forehands to dominate with and he was supreme at the net. From the player who would run out of ideas in his early exchanges against the big players, here he continually searched for solutions and often found them. Just as it seemed that Nadal was in control, however, he inexplicably started the fourth set with a flurry of unforced errors. Nadal then rode all of his momentum to a two sets to one lead. He watched on as, after the elation of Real Madrid’s Champions League win that Nadal attended, on an extremely cold afternoon Nadal started the match out of sorts. Rafael Nadal has played 112 tennis matches at Roland Garros over the course of his career and he has somehow lost just three times on these courts.

PARIS (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112...

One member of the audience, however, did not stick around for the fifth set: Toni Nadal, who is Rafael's uncle and coached him to 16 of his Grand Slam titles but now is helping coach Auger-Aliassime. Uncle Toni, as he's known to many, stayed away from both players' guest boxes — how could he choose a side? He has said repeatedly in Paris that he had no idea how well he'd be able to play. “These are special matches,” Nadal said. Looking at the larger picture, the formerly No. 1-ranked Nadal's record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open. Nadal used increasingly aggressive tactics, moving forward when possible and pouncing on any short ball from his foe. His movement was unhindered, his relentlessness intact. Overall he is 109-3 here, and two of those defeats came against Djokovic, including in last year's semifinals in their most recent showdown. Wrapped in souvenir orange French Open towels and blankets of various hues, spectators appreciated every last drop of drama, singing both players' first names and rising to their feet to applaud the many spectacular exchanges. Since starting the season with a 20-0 record, including an Australian Open title in January when Djokovic was not allowed to participate because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, Nadal has dealt with a rib injury and a recurrence of the chronic pain in his left foot that has troubled him for years. Returning while up 4-3, Nadal snapped his left wrist for a forehand passing winner that left him yelling and punching the air — and left Auger-Aliassime, a semifinalist at the 2021 U.S. Open but 0-2 for his career at the French Open until this year, hanging his head. PARIS (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career matches at Roland Garros, as the sun and temperature descended and the chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” filled the evening air, the man known as the King of Clay showed precisely what this meant to him.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will play in the French Open quarterfinals after each won his fourth round match at Roland Garros.

I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else,” said Djokovic, who beat 15th-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 earlier Sunday and has won all 12 sets he’s played in the tournament. Looking at the larger picture, Nadal’s record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open.

PARIS (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career matches at Roland Garros, as the sun and temperature descended ...

Rafael Nadal got through a serious test in the French Open's by edging Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up a record 59th matchup against rival Novak Djokovic.

No other two men have played each other as many times in the professional era of tennis. Two of those three career defeats in Paris came against Djokovic, owner of 20 major titles and two at the French Open. Last year, Djokovic beat Nadal in the semifinals en route to the trophy. Sunday’s thriller in Court Philippe Chatrier was only the third five-setter Nadal ever has played at Roland Garros, where he has won 13 of his record 21 Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal reacts to his thrilling win against Felix Auger-Aliassime at Roland Garros and looks ahead to his quarter-final blockbuster against Novak ...

I hope to be able to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible.” Nadal is now a jaw-dropping 109-3 at Roland Garros, where he will face Djokovic for the 10th time and 59th time overall. “That's why I am just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream that is [to] keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros, playing against the World No. 1,” Nadal said. “I am in [the] quarter-finals of Roland Garros. Two weeks and a half ago, even if I had good hopes, positive hopes after Rome, I [didn’t even] know if I would be able to be here,” Nadal said. And being honest, every match that I play here, I don't know if [it is] going to be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career. It is easy to forget that Nadal missed a month-and-a-half after the BNP Paribas Open due to a stress fracture in one of his ribs.

Rafael Nadal's 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Felix Auger-Aliassime at Roland Garros on Sunday may or may not go down as the best match of the year.

With FAA serving at 3-4, Nadal started by hitting a big forehand and finishing the point with a smash for 0-15. The last two games were the final act of the match, and a fitting pinnacle. This was a movie many of us have seen dozens of times at Roland Garros, and it seemed sure to end in a four-set runaway victory for Rafa. The first act was dominated by Auger-Aliassime. He broke Nadal in the third game of the match and used his serve—especially the wide one in the deuce court—his forehand, his drop shot, and his net game to win the first set. Nadal finished with his 109th victory roar in Paris. Auger-Aliassime finished with a crooked smile of appreciation—for the moment, for his opponent, and hopefully for himself—as he walked to the net to shake Rafa’s hand. But as far as pure sporting entertainment goes, it will be hard to top, inside or outside of tennis, in 2022.

Djokovic, the world No. 1, and Nadal, the 13-time French Open champion, will continue their epic rivalry on Tuesday in the quarterfinal at Roland Garros.

As Auger-Aliassime, pumped his fist after clinching the first set, 6-3, Nadal spent an extra few seconds working the line with his foot, taking an extra moment seemingly to prepare for the challenging places this match was going. Djokovic managed the challenge, making Schwartzman seem like a sparring partner who forced Djokovic to run and stay on the court long enough — a little more than two hours — but not too long. Nadal had no such concerns, though he struggled from the start of the chilly and breezy evening. Too cold and too damp, which makes the clay stick to balls, giving them the feel of heavy rocks on his racket. He was detained at the border and deported after government officials deemed his stance against vaccinations a threat to public health. Djokovic has tried to spearhead an independent players organization, the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he launched with a handful of other players in 2020. Nadal, who largely ended his 2021 season after the French Open because of a chronic foot injury, said finishing his career with the most major championships mattered little to him. Even more, it is a clash of two men whose personalities and trajectories, especially over the past year, have pushed them into different realms of the sport and public consciousness. On the court, they have captured each other’s most treasured possessions. Djokovic has refused to get vaccinated and questioned established science. Just a number. They have played each other 58 times, with Djokovic holding a 30-28 edge.

By Sudipto Ganguly PARIS (Reuters) -Rafa Nadal overcame a sluggish start and a stiff challenge from Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime with an ...

“The only thing I can tell you, I am going to be focused and try my best. Nadal wasted six breakpoint opportunities in the first set but cut down on his errors in the second and made his chance count in the eighth game to break his opponent and level the contest at 1-1. “We know each other well,” Nadal said of Djokovic. “We have a lot of history together.

A rib fracture. Chronic foot pain. His own Uncle Toni coaching the fourth-round opponent. Nothing has been easy for Rafael Nadal this year, but still, ...

It looked like Nadal's bid here at Roland Garros was starting to slip away from him, but then he took charge, storming the next two sets. But Nadal wasn't ready to slip away into the shadows. Then there's the swipe of the hair, the tug on the shorts, the 14 or so bounces of the ball and the serve. If he were to lose, it would be a less painful loss because the player I work with would win, but I don't like to deceive anyone." Here at Roland-Garros, there's the addition of three taps on his shoes to remove the dusty clay -- first the right shoe, then left, then right again. Auger-Aliassime broke him twice to make it 3-1, and then 5-1, and took the first set. On Sunday on Philippe-Chatrier, he walked out to an incredible reception from the crowd. Just like in Melbourne, expectations around Nadal were lower than usual heading into Paris. But once Nadal was seen practicing on the clay, all the usual trademarks we've come to know from him were there. But then came a passing shot at the net, and the hop, skip and three fist pumps, and everything was back to normal. He went on to take the Mexican Open, and with Djokovic's schedule unclear at that stage, and Roger Federer absent, it looked like it'd be the year of Nadal. But across the next fortnight he stretched ahead of the rest to secure his 21st Grand Slam title. He returned for the Madrid Open and ran into a Carlos Alcaraz-sized wall in the quarterfinals.

Felix Auger-Aliassime reflects on his five-set loss against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and looks ahead to Nadal's blockbuster showdown against Novak ...

“I’m proud about the effort I produced, the game I played, and like most of my matches I try to leave the match without any regrets,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It makes me very happy to have won a few matches here this year.” Instead, Auger-Aliassime will try to move forward taking lessons he learned from the match and his entire stay at the clay-court major. “So as I said, I really wish him the very best, but it will be a monumental effort for him, I think, to win. At one point even though he raised the level of his game, there were a few dips, physically, mentally, and I kind of lost the order of the game. He's somebody who I really like, and so I wish him the very best for the next match,” Auger-Aliassime said.

Paris, May 29 (EFE).- Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal took five sets to vanquish Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3 at the French ...

In other action, the pair made up of Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos moved to the doubles quarterfinals by defeating Great Britain’s Jonny O’Mara and Jackson Withrow, from the US, 6-1, 6-1. In women’s doubles play, Italy’s Martina Trevisan (No. 59) and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez (No. 17) will face off in the quarterfinals against Americans Coco Gauff (No. 18) and Sloane Stephens (No. 64). Zapata, No. 131 in the world, made it to the Round of 16 in a big tourney for the first time and had a chance to take the first two sets – getting out in front by 4-1 in the first and 4-2 in the second – but couldn’t bring it home at the crucial moments. Zverev will now play in the quarterfinals in Paris for the fourth time, facing off against Carlos Alcaraz (No. 6) after the 19-year-old Spaniard defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-1, 6-4 and 6-4 in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The upcoming contest will be their 59th encounter, the 10th at Roland Garros, where Djokovic has beaten Nadal only twice but is now seeking his third French Open trophy and his 21st Grand Slam, which would tie him with the Spaniard Meanwhile, in other Paris tennis action, Spain’s Bernabe Zapata gave a great account of himself but went down to defeat at the hands of Germany’s Alexander Zverev 7-6 (11), 7-5 and 6-3 in 2 hours and 45 minutes. On the hunt for his 14th title in Paris, Nadal had trouble moving ahead to the next round, with his 21-year-old rival forcing him to up his play, but backing him up to the abyss of defeat, which would have been the fourth such result in the French capital.

The French Open is fast approaching its final stretch with big names starring and young guns ready to step up.

In the men's draw Andrey Rublev vs. After coming back in the next two, I finished the third much better. That made a difference without a doubt."

A rib fracture. Chronic foot pain. His own Uncle Toni coaching the fourth-round opponent. Nothing has been easy for Rafael Nadal this year, but still, ...

It looked like Nadal's bid here at Roland Garros was starting to slip away from him, but then he took charge, storming the next two sets. But Nadal wasn't ready to slip away into the shadows. Then there's the swipe of the hair, the tug on the shorts, the 14 or so bounces of the ball and the serve. If he were to lose, it would be a less painful loss because the player I work with would win, but I don't like to deceive anyone." Here at Roland-Garros, there's the addition of three taps on his shoes to remove the dusty clay -- first the right shoe, then left, then right again. Auger-Aliassime broke him twice to make it 3-1, and then 5-1, and took the first set. On Sunday on Philippe-Chatrier, he walked out to an incredible reception from the crowd. Just like in Melbourne, expectations around Nadal were lower than usual heading into Paris. But once Nadal was seen practicing on the clay, all the usual trademarks we've come to know from him were there. But then came a passing shot at the net, and the hop, skip and three fist pumps, and everything was back to normal. He went on to take the Mexican Open, and with Djokovic's schedule unclear at that stage, and Roger Federer absent, it looked like it'd be the year of Nadal. But across the next fortnight he stretched ahead of the rest to secure his 21st Grand Slam title. He returned for the Madrid Open and ran into a Carlos Alcaraz-sized wall in the quarterfinals.

After Djokovic cruised, Nadal labored to a five-set win, setting up a clash in the quarterfinals.

At that point, he later explained to a French broadcaster, he could take no more and had to leave to watch the conclusion on television. He produced huge serves time and again to fend off 16 of the 22 break points he faced. The victor’s next challenge could prove equally daunting: a potential semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish teen who beat Nadal and Djokovic in succession to win the recent Madrid Open on clay. After leveling at one set apiece, Nadal rounded into form in the third set, pummeling Auger-Aliassime with forehand blasts again and again. He has yet to concede a set in the first four rounds. Nadal didn’t cite the rib he cracked during a tournament in March and made only passing reference to “a tough process” with his foot, alluding to chronic pain in his surgically repaired left one.

By Sudipto Ganguly PARIS (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal understands it will be a "big challenge" for him to beat Novak Djokovic in Tuesday's French Open quart...

“I am just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream that is to keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros, playing against the world number one. That’s my situation now. “I can’t complain much,” said Nadal, who will turn 36 on Friday. “I am in quarter-finals of Roland Garros. Two weeks and a half ago … I even didn’t know if I would be able to be here.

PARIS — (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career French Open matches, as the sun and temperature descended and ...

I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else,” said Djokovic, who beat 15th-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 earlier Sunday and has won all 12 sets he's played in the tournament. Looking at the larger picture, Nadal's record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open. Overall he is 109-3 here, and two of those defeats came against Djokovic, including in last year's semifinals. I don't know what's going to happen, but the only thing I can guarantee is I am going to fight until the end.” “Of course we know each other well.

PARIS — (AP) — By the end of only the third five-setter Rafael Nadal has played in 112 career matches at Roland Garros, as the sun and temperature descended ...

One member of the audience, however, did not stick around for the fifth set: Toni Nadal, who is Rafael's uncle and coached him to 16 of his Grand Slam titles but now is helping coach Auger-Aliassime. Uncle Toni, as he's known to many, stayed away from both players' guest boxes — how could he choose a side? He has said repeatedly in Paris that he had no idea how well he'd be able to play. “These are special matches,” Nadal said. Looking at the larger picture, the formerly No. 1-ranked Nadal's record 13 championships at Roland Garros are part of his haul of 21 Grand Slam trophies, a record for men. Nadal used increasingly aggressive tactics, moving forward when possible and pouncing on any short ball from his foe. Djokovic leads 30-28, although Nadal has a 7-2 advantage at the French Open. His movement was unhindered, his relentlessness intact. Zverev beat 131st-ranked qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-6 (11), 7-5, 6-3, and Alcaraz displayed a back-to-the-net, between-the-legs lob while wrapping up the day's schedule with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 21 Karen Khachanov. Wrapped in souvenir orange French Open towels and blankets of various hues, spectators appreciated every last drop of drama, singing both players' first names and rising to their feet to applaud the many spectacular exchanges. Overall he is 109-3 here, and two of those defeats came against Djokovic, including in last year's semifinals in their most recent showdown. Since starting the season with a 20-0 record, including an Australian Open title in January when Djokovic was not allowed to participate because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, Nadal has dealt with a rib injury and a recurrence of the chronic pain in his left foot that has troubled him for years. Returning while up 4-3, Nadal snapped his left wrist for a forehand passing winner that left him yelling and punching the air — and left Auger-Aliassime, a semifinalist at the 2021 U.S. Open but 0-2 for his career at the French Open until this year, hanging his head.

The 13-time champion Nadal has only lost three matches at Roland-Garros.

Announcer Mike Breen to miss Celtics-Heat Game 7 after testing positive for COVID-19 Auger-Aliassime, 21, got out to the early lead but Nadal roared back to win the next two sets. Djokovic defeated Diego Schwartzman in the fourth round earlier Sunday.

During Rafael Nadal's long illustrious career, he has played 112 matches at Roland Garros and won 109 of them.

"Here we are in Roland Garros. It is my favorite place, without a doubt. But, in that fifth set, he showcased his brilliance on clay. "[It's] a huge challenge and probably the biggest one that you can have here in Roland Garros. I'm ready for it." It continued his perfect start to the tournament in which he has yet to drop a set. On clay, the rivalry is more lopsided in favor of Nadal who has won seven matches compared to Djokovic's two. The two players, who have won 15 of the last 17 French Open titles, will meet again on Tuesday in the quarterfinals in what is one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.

In a match worthy of the French Open final, tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will square off in a blockbuster Roland-Garros quarter-final on ...

6-2 6-3 7-6(4) Alex Molcan (Slovakia) 6-2 6-2 6-2

Rafael Nadal's French Open quarter-final against long-time rival Novak Djokovic will take place in Tuesday's night session at Roland Garros despite the ...

Nadal and Djokovic have played one match each so far after dark. "I think that makes a big difference between the way tennis is played on clay during the night and during the day." "I don't like to play on clay during the night, because the humidity is higher, the ball is slower, and there can be very heavy conditions especially when it's cold," said Nadal last week.

No two men have played each other more times than world No. 1 Djokovic and record 21-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, a rivalry that began in 2006 and has produced some of the most riveting entertainment imaginable. Nadal, who turns 36 on Friday, won their ...

But Djokovic has not dropped a set on his way to the quarterfinals of this French Open, while Nadal had to play for four and a half hours to subdue Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round. His retrieving skills are like no other's, and the space behind and alongside the court gives him the chance to hit seemingly impossible shots. If Nadal starts well and gets the crowd behind him, he knows what he's capable of. There's also the 2020 Roland-Garros final to compare this one to. "Being honest, every match that I play here, I don't know if it's going to be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career, no?" I guess I expect the same thing against Rafa because no one is against Rafa in Paris." "I don't like night sessions on clay," he said on several occasions this week. Djokovic, including the 2020 final, when he played incredible tennis to win in straight sets. "They're not against him but the crowd is definitely for the underdog in this tournament. The Spaniard went on to win five of their first six battles. This will be their 10th meeting at Roland-Garros, with Nadal winning eight of them. He's turning it into: 'Well you know what, I'm going to show you I'm No. 1 in the world' with his body language, and it helps him with the crowd.

PARIS—In 2006, Rafael Nadal entered his quarterfinal match as the defending French Open champion after celebrating his 20th birthday a few days prior. His ...

In 50 of their previous 58 matches, the winner of the first set has prevailed. He is the winner of the previous major. Djokovic went on to win the title, his second in Paris and 19th career Grand Slam title. I always have on my mind that this may be my last match in my tennis career, on this amazing court, so I always try to fight and enjoy as much as I can.” After Nadal won five of the first six encounters, Djokovic stormed back. Nadal and Djokovic. Djokovic and Nadal. The most textured rivalry in men’s tennis has crossed the globe and encompassed all kinds of circumstances. If Nadal wins, he is two matches from taking a two-major lead, 22-20, over Djokovic and Roger Federer. If Djokovic wins, he is two matches from tying Nadal with 21 majors. Nadal versus Djokovic on the big court. Barely five years after Djokovic couldn’t complete that first encounter in Paris, he had the durability to take down Nadal in an Australian Open final that spanned nearly six hours. Nadal turns 36 on Friday. But it also owed to the ritual, set-it-and-forget-it excellence of the best two players over the past decade. PARIS—In 2006, Rafael Nadal entered his quarterfinal match as the defending French Open champion after celebrating his 20th birthday a few days prior.

Men's tennis handicapper Sean Calvert has locked in his Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic picks in the French Open 2022.

Djokovic in the 2022 French Open men's quarterfinal? Visit SportsLine now to see Sean Calvert's best bets for Djokovic vs Nadal, all from the tennis handicapper with a history of making big calls. Since making his French Open debut in 2005, he is 109-3 in Paris. Ranked No. 1 in the world, Djokovic enters Tuesday's quarterfinal on a roll. However Nadal has owned the all-time series between the two rivals on clay. The over-under for total games is 36.5. The match will not begin before 2:45 p.m. ET. Before making any 2022 French Open picks, be sure to see the latest tennis predictions from SportsLine's Sean Calvert.

Tuesday's highly-anticipated French Open quarter-final between world number one Novak Djokovic and 13-time champion Rafa Nadal has been scheduled to be ...

Obviously, depending on who you play, sometimes it's favourable to play night; sometimes day. TV, whether they want your match, day or night. "I don't like night sessions on clay.

Carlos Moya, who has coached Rafael Nadal since 2017, looks ahead to his charge's Roland Garros quarter-final match against Novak Djokovic.

I think he is saying that more in that sense, but I’m confident and I hope it’s not his last match in Paris. I have complete confidence in Rafa. I’m optimistic and positive in life in general, but in his case, I’m realistic. The most important thing is that he is aware that he has to play a good match and that he strikes the ball well. It was a close atmosphere and he played an amazing game. It’s the way I am, the way I approach life. A couple of years ago it was more tactical, but now it is all better established in his mind. We always expect the best of Nadal and I think he’ll be at his best tomorrow so that he can win. Last year we came here having won the final in Rome, and ended up losing. It’s clear that he’s playing a match where there’s a risk of losing. In 2020 we arrived in a different situation and he came through. Not too much, because it dilutes the message, but now it’s more reminders of aspects that have been forgotten. You have to play a high level of tennis, more than just tactics.

PARIS (AP) — This French Open is the first Grand Slam tournament in a year with both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the field.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will play in a quarterfinal at the French Open on Tuesday night, their 59th career meeting and 10th at Roland Garros.

Nadal knows that breaking down the elastic Djokovic from the baseline is one of the toughest asks in tennis. Lose and Djokovic will have a tying 21st in his sights, though not necessarily in his grasp. “Rafa is match toughened this year with having hit the wall many times and finding ways to win,” Cahill said. Djokovic leads their overall series 30-28, but Nadal still leads 10-7 in Grand Slam matches and 19-8 on clay. Last year it was the semis and now the quarters, but it’s probably the best quarterfinal ever in the history of the French Open.” What I’m trying to do is enjoy and continue living the dream to play tennis and get to the final rounds of Roland Garros.” Enough to handle a grinding, grueling five-setter with Nadal on the Spaniard’s signature surface? “I know Roland Garros during the day and prefer to play during the day. Alcaraz and Rune are just 19 and in the quarterfinals, and though Nadal vs. There are also night sessions at other European clay-court events, including the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, which Nadal has still managed to win 10 times. Night sessions are a new development at the modern French Open, introduced last year albeit with reduced capacity because of pandemic-related restrictions. “I think we have to cherish this moment and not get ahead of ourselves.”