The absolutely loaded top half of the French Open draw remains intact heading into the business end of the tournament.
But it wasn’t easy–at least not for Rafael Nadal.
The 13-time champion needed five sets to get past Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round on Sunday, surviving 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after four hours and 21 minutes. With that Nadal joined Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals; both Djokovic and Alcaraz cruised through their matches in easy straight sets.
Nadal, Djokovic, and Alcaraz are the top three favorites for the men’s singles titles and all three are on the same side of the bracket. That, of course, means only one can reach the final–and only two can reach the semis. Nadal and Djokovic have to go head-to-head in the quarters, while Alcaraz will face Alexander Zverev on Tuesday.
A five-set struggle may not be ideal preparation for Nadal, but given what Auger-Aliassime threw at him he will gladly take any kind of win and live to see another day on the terre battue of Roland Garros. Auger-Aliassime fired 50 winners–a remarkable number against Nadal on clay–and served at 69 percent while committing just five unforced errors in the entire fifth set. Unfortunately for the ninth-ranked Canadian, Nadal also raised his level in the decider and struck 15 winners compared to only four errors over the final nine games.
“(What) made the difference (is) that I played a little bit better,” the 35-year-old explained. “The sport is normally very simple, no? When you play better you have better chances; if you play worse then you have, of course, less chances.
“In that case, when I played well I won the match. When I played not that well, I had a lot of troubles. Because (in the) first set I didn’t play well, so I lost. And then after the set, after the first set and a half I started to play much better in my opinion–much more aggressive. Then I played a good end of the second set and I think a very good third set. Then I made (a) super (big) mistake at the beginning of the fourth…and then I suffered. But (the) most important thing (is) that I played I think a good fifth set.”
Good? More like great.
And the King of Clay will have to be great again if he wants to avenge last year’s French Open semifinal loss to Djokovic. Through four rounds, Djokovic has not dropped a single set and only one set has been more competitive than 6-3. On Sunday he erased Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic is well-rested. Nadal is battle-tested. Which factor is more important? We’ll find out on Tuesday.
nice one, Rafa
I am more worried about his ‘this could be my last match’ comment than his QF. He sounds like he would call it a day at the end of this season, whether he gets 22 or not
Exactly raj, he is repeatedly saying it. It’s fine accepting whatever it is but then why say it over and over again ,is he planning to invite it? I just don’t like this comment.
And then we say his fans are negative, it’s not his fans ,it’s his statements. Has he ever talked himself up ?
https://mobile.twitter.com/fermurciego/status/1530998302170353667
This may or may not be his last season or last FO, it depends on his body and also on his results. Had it not for the rib injury, he could be doing better than now this clay season and would be in a more positive vibe, and I do feel he won’t be considering retiring if he’s still winning.
Regarding the R4 match, I do feel that in a slam, if Rafa loses the first set, he would then have to go five sets to win the match (eg the AO final and this FAA match).
I think that’s because he couldn’t sustain a consistent high level for four sets, and that’s why he may lose two sets out of four and so has to play a fifth set, if he loses the first set. The five set AO match Vs Shapo at the AO (where he won the first set) and then lost two of the remaining three sets, was another example that his level of play might fluctuate as he couldn’t sustain a high level throughout.
I still think that his approach to a match at a slam should always be trying to win the first set, settles his nerve and then continues with aggression to win the second. He may lose the third set as he takes a breather and then comes back to win the fourth.
At his age now, he couldn’t afford to start slow, especially when he’s at or nearing the business end of a slam.
Rafa ..I have a belief you will win 22 n this I have since many years ..you have to win 22 ..it may not be at this french open and frankly I don’t care where it happens though would love it to happen at Wimbledon this year..maybe 22 is the year you get 22 and the 2 slams happen at your least successful ones
Rafa is also trying to play down his chances, not a mind game, but to manage expectations especially from his fans and supporters.
Should he win, we all will be very happy, but should he lose, at least that’s something we are prepared to accept.
Rafa is always very cautious with his expectations, he’s one who hope for the best but prepares for the worst case scenario. Perhaps, that’s also how he copes with losses especially those heart breaking ones.
He trying to get the match shifted to the day, its not that hard to understand. I dont believe for one moment it is his last RG match even he loses tomorrow.
Looking at the schedule, Alcaraz and Zverev ARE during the day.
Oh, has to be fair to Rafa, he draws the toughest R4 opponent for the top eight guys; FAA is seeded no.9, the highest ranked among all the R4 opponents.
Djoko has no.15 seed, Alcaraz no. 20+ seed and Zverev a qualifier. Meddy has Cilic the 20th seed, Rublev has no. 11 Sinner, Tsitsipas has the up and coming young gun Rune, and Rudd has Hurkacz at no 12.
Rafa is dealt a very tough draw when all his top opponents live up to their rankings to meet him!
This is the point I made. Rather than focus on just the results we need to consider the opposition as well.
Van De ZANDSCHULP is seeded #26, with a huge serve and great ground strokes. Bedene is unseeded at #195 with no weapons. Schwartzman was a bit flat in his 4th rnd match whilst Felix with a ton of weapons, was firing on all cylinders.
Whats wrong with Rafa having a tough draw , he’s the GOAT of clay and 13 RG titles ? Did you complain when he had a easy draw?
Everybody knows that Rafa arrived undercooked in Paris this year. I would say that he has solved this problem yesterday and he’s now battle ready.
Regarding his first set against FAA, I think it’s totally plausible that Nadal was a bit drained emotionally after Real Madrid’s match. For sure he celebrated late at night and disturbed his usual pre-game routine.
I don’t think that fitness will be an issue against Novax. Confidence won’t be a problem either. The foot on the other hand might be.
Regarding the much anticipated QF, Rafa has beaten the Serb at RG in every possible condition, including cold and indoor. He even managed to do that in 2014, when he was playing worse than now. He only lost during his worst playing period (2015) and last year due to injury.
If the body holds, Nadal should win this in four. I expect Novax to try and prolong the game hoping that Rafa’s body breaks – that’s probably his best chance.
So, if I understood your sentiment here, you think that if Rafa is healthy, there is no way he can lose from Novak?
And in case of a loss, it has nothing to do with Novak being simply better in a match?
Interesting…
Do you know what “should” and “probably” mean?
There’s always a chance that Rafa has a bad day at the office and loses (never happened in 16 appearances though), but all things being equal he will obviously win. I am saying that there are far better chances that Nadal gets injured than that he simply has a bad day and “Novak is simply better”.
Truth is, Rafa is simply better than Novax on clay, but yeah, accidents can happen.
Well, “accidents” happened 8 times so far in case of Novak.
While Rafa might be better on clay, it is simply arrogant to call that “accidents”.
Also, you can forget about your credibility in a conversation, when you decide to refer to Novak as “Novax”…
Well, I have been posting here for a while so it’s no secret that I never liked Novax and his histrionics. His AO exploits left me somewhere between contempt and despise. Actually he goes by “Novax” for many of us here.
Not all clay courts are equal. Yes, Nadal is the best (ever?) on clay, but some conditions suit him more than others. I would say that RG provides the best possible conditions for him, especially the 5 sets format.
The Serb beating Rafa in Madrid and Rome or even RG (when the Spaniard was either playing really bad or was injured in Paris) were no accidents. His Monte Carlo win probably was an accident. Beating a healthy Rafa at RG is a different story though.
Well, I simply don’t know where to start about mentioning all the things I despise about Rafa, and yet I am civilized enough to refrain myself from calling names and mentioning such things in a serious conversation.
Also, I am mature enough not to look for the crowd to be a shield for me, and say such things as “many of us here” think this or that. I am talking to you, not them.
Besides, the guy that calls himself “Best Player”, simply nailed it. Not sure if you can find it on this thread, so for your convenience, I will copy it below:
“Why some of them being so negative about Nadal when he faces Djokovic. The same guys trash Djoko when they are not going to play each other and the moment they are going to meet and you expect they would be saying that Djokovic is going to get trounced by Nadal and contrary to the expectation the entire narrative changes and they make Djokovic favourite and Rafa with all possibilities to lose. Then the story builds up like if he wins he is time and again proving everyone wrong. This is like win-win situation if Novak wins then its like I already said Rafa lacks match practice, his foot problem, night schedule and if Nadal wins then nothing matters anyday anytime Nadal can defeat Djoko on clay and whatever previous wins Djoko has against Nadal is because of injuries.
The reality is both have chances and there is no shame if Rafa loses to Novak as he is one of all time great plus world number one and similarly if Novak loses its fine for his fans as he is losing to king of clay but some of them do lot of build up that Rafa is invincible and there is no one stands any chance but reality is Djokovic is more than capable of defeating Nadal.
Also Rafa fans mostly prefer him to avoid Djoko in any slam where as Djoko fans prefer him to play Nadal in every slam including clay.”
‘If I play better…I win.” Vamos Rafa!
I don’t understand some of the comments on here. We all know Nadal is a great player. The draw is the draw. Nadal’s ranking caused him to drop to #5. This hindered his draw and gave him a tougher road. FAA also is going to keep improving, as he is 21, and has a huge game.
Nadal NEVER drops two sets at the French Open in a tournament, let alone a match. Nadal is going to be pushed by Djokovic. Joker is going to be more rested and is the Odds favorite to win the tournament. Nadal isn’t serving particularly well BUT always has the fighting spirit to stay in a match. I like Djokovic in 4 sets with at least 2 tight ones in there.
Nadal will get to 22 and the US Open is his best shot to get there in 2022. This is just me being logical here. In current form, Djokovic looks poised to make the Final. The other half, if playing their best, it should be Tsitsipas. Medvedev is flying under the radar and has a good chance to make the Semifinal. Time will tell, but it looks like Joker/Alcaraz AND Tsitspas/Medvedev for a chance at the Final.
Rafa and Novax get the night session.
Sorry but I am absolutely furious.
This is money winning over sport as the viewing figures would be higher earlier on.
I am sick to death of Novax getting preferential treatment e.g. Wimby 2018.
Yes. i also learnt it is evening session which will favor Novak. Same as last year. I do not know if he is getting pref treatment but could be for TV rating as well. it is working day. these days draws are not balanced. or may be just on paper they seem balanced and reality turns to be different
This is all due to TV broadcasting reasons. They might as well consider that a night session favours a longer match, but they are well aware that Rafa exiting early would seriously impact their income. Few love Novax these days so nobody’s doing anything for his sake.
My answer to the problem is do away with all night sessions at Slams.
To say its preferential, Id have to see more examples than just the ones that didnt suit Rafa.
“Djokovic is well-rested. Nadal is battle-tested. Which factor is more important? Weâll find out on Tuesday.”
Nice one, Ricky.
I hope this match has brought the best out of Rafa and he continues from where he left off in set 5!
I won’t be surprised if he takes even more chances on his second serves. Djoko hasn’t faced his improved second serve so won’t be easy to pressure it like in the past.
Also RG can get lost.
They shouldn’t have sold their soul to the devil by taking a ton of money from Bezos and then serving up players for these ridiculous night matches which don’t even play like clay.
This isn’t just about tomorrow. I have said repeatedly I can’t stand the night matches.
Also, they are supposed to be shared equally. Well Zverev, Rudd and Rublev won’t play one now. Swiatek hasn’t played one. In fact the women have only played one.
This is a load of greedy soulless commercialised garbage.
Everyone knows that playing at night will give Novax a big advantage.
Well he can get lost!
Who’s rattling your cage?
No! Who is rattling your cage?
Please make sure first that your cats are fed, then proceed with the conversation.
Thanks.
Cut the crap!
Cut the cake!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSq93Hsn0Bg
I love that groovy dance music.
Off-topic. sorry
Hey caption person I will be on YouTube later. Flashcore.com/tennis is where I go now.
Sigh.
What a disappointment , its either jubilation if Rafa wins, or the complete opposite. Please cut the crap, if you cant grow up first! Enjoy the match and lets have no sour grapes whoever wins.
That should have been Real Al but I like it
Nadal V Djokovic is at night. (8:45 PM Paris Time)
Advantage Djokovic
Night match,horrible conditions for him….tired rafa .so now all pressure on Novak.. no one expects rafa to win…think if he somehow does haha
Have had some more positive thoughts after losing my temper.
I haven’t had time to watch the whole match from yesterday on replay but I watched the last 2 games of the fourth set and the fifth.
It was absolutely crucial that Rafa held under a ton of pressure so that Felix had to serve it out and Rafa got to serve first in the fifth. And a couple of games into the fifth Rafa really raised his level and played some excellent tennis.
If Rafa’s foot holds then it may actually help him that the match went long because that final.set he was playing in the same conditions he will get in the night session tomorrow. I know tomorrow will be later but it will be 4 degrees warmer than yesterday so the conditions he played last night will be very similar.
So Rafa actually will have a big confidence boost from knowing he played great at the end under the same conditions. He just has to do the same tomorrow.
I think he’s going to be pretty angry he is playing at night. That may help also to fuel his adrenaline.
Rafa will play well day or night; he will play any match as if it will be his last at the FO, so I’m sure he will put up a good show.
If Rafa plays at a high level for most part of the match, he will win. His high level > anyone else’s high level.
Of course the question is could he sustain his high level long enough to get a win? We’ll see, but my bet is on him to win in the end.
Amy…I’m not bothered..I am ok with a loss tomorrow.. I just hope Novak does not win the slam but then if he beats rafa ,he has no obstacle ..
I am more focuseed on my belief that rafa will win 22 somewhere else and I’ll wait for the 22. 22 is surely coming, it has to – wimby ,uso or ao
Let’s see sanju!đ
I honestly think he can win; I am not just saying that.
I too think he will get to 22. It’s just a question when.