There is no doubt that Rafael Nadal is the greatest legend at Roland Garros. A total of 13 titles, incredible records and even a statue weighing 800 kilos confirm this. However, this Friday Novak Djokovic managed to overshadow the figure of the Spanish. With solid tennis and an unwavering mentality, the world number one prevailed in the semifinals of the Parisian Grand Slam and sentenced what was only the third defeat for the Spaniard in a total of 108 matches at the French Open.
Nole thus becomes the only tennis player who has been able to beat Rafa twice at Roland Garros. He had already done it in the quarterfinals of 2015, when he overwhelmingly overcame it in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 and 6-1. To that duel the one from Mallorca arrived as the defending champion of the tournament, but succumbed to the inspired day of the Serbian. Anyway, that time Nole could not consecrate himself as he fell in the final against the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
But this was not the first defeat that Nadal suffered in the tournament in which he has reigned almost without exception since 2005 in this part. The other tennis player who had managed to overcome him before Djokovic had been the Swede Robin Söderling. In 2009, the current number three in the ATP ranking arrived as champion of the last four editions of the Parisian tournament, but he succumbed to a surprise 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 and 7-6 in the round of 16. Söderling would then lose the final to Roger Federer, in which to this day is the Basel’s only title on French brick dust.
In this Friday’s duel, Nadal not only resigned the chance to go for his 14th crown in Paris, but also left behind some important records: so far, he had never lost a match in his favorite Grand Slam after winning the first set.
This was the 58th game in the tight history between Djokovic and Nadal. Nole now has a 30-win lead to the Spaniard’s 28. It should be noted that in the Parisian brick dust they have been face to face on nine occasions, with a clear supremacy of Rafa, who has won the victory in seven games. In Grand Slam tournaments, meanwhile, they have already collided 17 times, with a 10-7 advantage for Spanish.
With this victory, Djokovic will play Sunday’s grand final against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in search of his 19th Grand Slam title. In case of reaching it, he will be very close to the two greatest winners of all time, which are Nadal himself and the Swiss Roger Federer, both with 20 conquests. (GG) (Infobae)
Three defeats in 108 games for Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros
