The French Open semifinal between Novak Djokovic and and Rafael Nadal on Friday was one to remember–especially a thrilling third set that will go down in tournament history. Both during and after Djokovic’s win, the tennis world posted its thoughts on Twitter.
You cannot play better clay court tennis than this. It’s perfect. 👏
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 11, 2021
@DjokerNole @RafaelNadal @rolandgarros
There is no higher level of sport than this
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) June 11, 2021
The level is insane tho
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) June 11, 2021
This match is insane…. #rafadjok
— Marcus Willis (@Willbomb90) June 11, 2021
THIS MATCH IS INSANE!!!
— Rennae Stubbs OLY (@rennaestubbs) June 11, 2021
This is IN SANE @RafaelNadal @DjokerNole @rolandgarros
— Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) June 11, 2021
No matter what side of the fence you sit on supporting Rafa or Nole, you’ve gotta be frazzled by now.
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) June 11, 2021
Every single point feels like it has had implications. Amazing tennis and drama.
Tennis ❤️
— Christopher Kas (@KasiTennis) June 11, 2021
The offense 🤯
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) June 11, 2021
The defense 🤯🤯
The intensity 🤯🤯🤯
The drama 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Tennis doesn’t get any better than this #FrenchOpen #NadalVsDjokovic
— Neal Skupski (@nealskupski) June 11, 2021
PlayStation tennis 🎾🇫🇷🤯
— Ken Skupski (@k_skupski) June 11, 2021
A clash of Titans. How lucky are we to see this generation of players. We may never see anything like this again, so watch it, drink it in and enjoy every moment…@TennisChannel @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/xYaImCY2j3
— Rob Koenig (@RobKoenigTennis) June 11, 2021
Absolutely incredible tennis. If you aren’t watching this match do yourself a favor and turn it on #RolandGarros
— Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) June 11, 2021
Can’t let this crowd leave for curfew! This atmosphere and match is unreal !!!
— deniskudla (@deniskudla) June 11, 2021
Quel match!!! Tellement inspirant. Quelle chance de pouvoir voir ça. Merci 🙏… MAIS, Comment vont faire les organisateurs dans 30 minutes ??
— Nico Mahut (@nmahut) June 11, 2021
Que competidores🤯🤯🤯 que cosa hermosa!
— Pablo Cuevas (@PabloCuevas22) June 11, 2021
Quelle intensité, quel match!!! 😱🎾🙌🏻 #rg21
— Paul Henri Mathieu (@PHMofficiel) June 11, 2021
Los tenistas jugamos al mismo deporte que ellos dos? 😂🎾
— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) June 11, 2021
Potentially the biggest tie break in history of tennis happening right now. #NadalVsDjokovic
— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) June 11, 2021
Would have to drag me out of there 😅
— Vasek Pospisil (@VasekPospisil) June 11, 2021
OMG they get to stay!!!! Best decision of the tournament
— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) June 11, 2021
Me for the past 3h #vamosrafa #rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/e2owV63P4s
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) June 11, 2021
If you’re not a tennis fan. Watch this match and you definitely will be now!! Inspirational to watch every single point from these two pic.twitter.com/OJNJNDHS3j
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) June 11, 2021
Plus beau match de ma vie que je vois en « live » …. #rafadjokoacte58 @rolandgarros
— Julien Benneteau (@julienbenneteau) June 11, 2021
Can’t believe what I’ve just witnessed. Best level of tennis I’ve ever seen. 👏 @DjokerNole @RafaelNadal
— Marcus Willis (@Willbomb90) June 11, 2021
In awe of what we just witnessed for the past 4 hours @DjokerNole @RafaelNadal forever champs!!
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) June 11, 2021
Tremendo partido 👏👏👏
— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) June 11, 2021
No se puede creer lo que jugaron! Gracias @DjokerNole @RafaelNadal.
Sueño con volver a encontrarlos 🔨
Merci @RafaelNadal & @DjokerNole pour cette soirée de sport exceptionnelle 👏✨
— Lucas Pouille (@la_pouille) June 11, 2021
Wow wow wow. Djokovic!!! @DjokerNole
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) June 11, 2021
El resumen del @RafaelNadal vs @DjokerNole es que juegan a otro deporte diferente.Durante muchos momentos ha sido posiblemente el mejor partido que he visto en muchos años.Siempre contigo Rafa💚Gracias!!
— Feliciano López (@feliciano_lopez) June 11, 2021
wow what amazing 🤩 win for Djoker taking out Vamos-Rafa simply the highest quality match 😎✅👍👊🎾
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) June 11, 2021
Another battle to remember ! Until tomorrow 💪🏼🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/xtJKUR0G8y
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 12, 2021
nice one, Djoker
Apart from the 3rd set and particularly the tiebreak, I thought the match was, overall, average quality. It often seemed to me that I was watching two guys in their mid-30’s rather than 20s. There were a lot of unforced errors from Nadal, who clearly wasn’t at his clay-court best after the first set and really ran out of gas in the 4th. Of course, Nole had a lot to do with that. His mental strength is unmatched.
It is true that there were some amazing, yes, even insane points, including at crucial stages of the match. That, along with the history between these guys, made it one of the most drama-filled matches I can remember, right up there with the 2019 Wimby final. I think Novak was right to call it his greatest victory. Beating a healthy Nadal at RG really is the greatest challenge in sport and Djokovic finally did it. In terms of drama it was absolutely tennis at its best.
get well soon Rafa.