Expert picks are back on Tuesday for the French Open quarterfinal clash between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. A three-team panel previews the highly-anticipated action and makes its predictions.
Ricky Dimon: Nadal is coming off a five-set slugfest against Felix Auger-Aliassime. I don’t think that’s the worst thing in the world because it means the Spaniard is battle tested and he also looked good physically throughout that match while also playing at a consistently high level. I actually think it could help him in the early stages against Djokovic. In the long run, though, Djokovic’s full tank should come in handy for what will surely be a physical fight. The Serb wore down Nadal in last year’s quarterfinals and I think he can do the same again. Nighttime conditions won’t help the 13-time champion, either. Nadal is too good in Paris and playing too well right now to get blown out, but pretty much all signs are pointing toward Djokovic. Djokovic in 4: 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
Cheryl Murray: Djokovic and Nadal will meet for the 59th time on Tuesday. It’s absurd, really–absurd that the two GOATs are contemporaries, ridiculous that they have smashed into each other almost 60 times. But perhaps the most unbelievable aspect in the most prolific rivalry of all time is each man’s consistent ability to find their way to the business end of tournaments they enter. It’s not like they bump into each other in the third round. Nope. They have never met prior to the quarterfinals in a “regular” (not Davis Cup or year-end championship) tournament…. Not once…in 59 meetings. It’s just…yeah. I get a bit misty-eyed each time they run into each other. It goes beyond special. It is completely unique to them, a narrative told in intimate detail for 16 years, offering the world a first hand look at wild joy and bitter disappointment, elation and agony, brilliance and baffled frustration. They are warriors locked in a battle of attrition that goes one way, then the other, then back again. And each time they add a chapter to their story I wonder if I’m watching them for the last time.
Djokovic probably has the edge this time–even though it’s on clay and even though it’s at Roland Garros. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t doubt Nadal’s abilities or his will. I know well enough that he understands how to win in Paris better than any human ever has. But the injuries have been so disruptive, I just don’t think he’s match tough enough to get past Djokovic. He’ll give it everything he has, though; that you can be sure of. Djokovic in 5: 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-5.
Pete Ziebron (Tennis Acumen): Djokovic will be slightly fresher after making quick work of all four opponents so far, while Nadal had to go the distance in the previous round against Auger-Aliassime. In fact, the Serb has won 22 consecutive sets on clay–having corrected course after falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid semis and then rolling through the field at the Rome Masters. Nadal arrived in Paris without a clay title this year and in serious pain less than two weeks prior to the start of the French Open. Nonetheless, he has once again found a way to recover and excel on the terre battue to set up this clash. The Mallorcan will need to clean up his break-point conversion significantly from the 6-for-22 performance in the last round. Meanwhile, Djokovic is serving immaculately–hitting just two double-faults in four matches. Both sets of stats are in the past, however, and are rendered meaningless once the court is taken in this highly anticipated quarterfinal. Look for Nadal to win a few more of the bigger points in the match. Nadal in 5: 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Rafa’s bad habit is that when he’s ahead, he tends to lose concentration and plays some erratic tennis to lose the advantage. When his back is against the wall then he plays his best tennis!
I think Rafa enjoys suffering too much, that he has to suffer in each match he plays vs a tough opponent.
Okay, Rafa let that set slip away. Happens when you are lacking preparation that you have these dips. Amazing comeback from Djoko! Only he can absorb such pressure from Rafa.
One set of energy wasted by Rafa. It’s not like he doesn’t have his chances in set two yet he squanders away the advantage and the set!
Seriously, Djoko isnt playing all that well and Rafa should be leading by two sets now! Djoko is one formidable opponent and if you let him back into the match, he will be tough to beat.
Maybe it’s a good thing he lost that set so he can relax. He is breaking Novak left right and center but y can’t he just hold and stop being passive? It’s not like Novak is playing light out…….Rafa is the better player!! Vamos, Rafa!!
What a bizarre match!
Third set Rafa!
He really should have won the whole match
His net game has helped him a lot as always
Bizarre indeed!! Rafa got broken in forth set!!!!!!! Damn it!!!
This really isn’t good tennis. It’s hard-fought tennis, but the quality isn’t particularly impressive.
Not at all especially from Rafa bcoz he had the upper hand!! Really not blockbuster material to say the least!
I don’t believe this.
I’m losing interest in this match! Rafa or Djoko could win this, but they’re playing poor quality tennis by their standard. If the winner of this match continues to play like this in the SF, and Zverev plays like he did in the QF, Zverev will eat up the winner here to reach the final.
I really think that both Rafa and Djoko are getting old, and they’re making more errors than usual, and I really doubt they can outhit a player like Zverev who has so much fire power.
This match is not a blockbuster, it’s like a slug fest, and whoever plays ‘less’ badly will win this match.
I am not watching just keeping up with the scores! I lost interest from second set! Novak is playing so poorly and yet Rafa can’t dispatch him? Ure right, they r definitely both getting old!!!
Lucky..both were nervous..rafa won’t play like this in sf…any match between rafa n Novak will not have exceptional quality as they are playing for highest slam race.
We shouldn’t be too surprised that this is going to five!!! Rafa didn’t keep his grip in the second set so this was bound to happen!!! The starting was too good to be true! Hope he can at least hold here so that he can be first to serve in fifth
Whoever loses this match please go and take a rest and recovers, and prepares for Wimbledon.
The one in the SF will have to slug it out all over again and will most likely lose to Zverev, unless Zverev has a big let down.
This is really unimpressive tennis so far, I’m disappointed with the level of tennis played by both.
Rafa’s level has picked up all of a sudden
Come on Rafa win this set so I can go to bed
I don’t feel very well!amy
Yeah even if Rafa wins this will he really have anything left? That’s 2 five setters back to back!! Good is not Alcaraz waiting!
Yesssssss! Vamoooooossss! ❤️❤️❤️❤️💪💪💪💪
Rafa won!
He won a tiebreaker!
Rafa Rafa Rafa…
Oh my gosh!! He did it, in four!!! VAMOS!!!!!!! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
I am crying! Rafa did it! Oh God!
After all the crap I had to read about his chances!
Rafa!
❤️😍
❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕💕❤️❤️