Rafael Nadal (ATP 5) opened a royal road to a 14th title at Roland-Garros, which would be the 22nd in Grand Slam. The Spaniard dominated the trophy holder Novak Djokovic (ATP 1) 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7/4) in a clash of the quarter-finals which kept all its promises.
It was 1:15 a.m. when Rafael Nadal was able to let his joy burst out and raise his arms to the sky. Beaten by Nole in the semi-finals last year at Porte d’Auteuil, he took a scathing revenge after 4h12′ of a constant fight, to win the right to face Alexander Zverev (ATP 3) in semi-finals.
This success, the 110th in 113 games delivered by Rafael Nadal on Parisian clay, is obviously not an achievement. Nevertheless, few observers would have imagined such an outcome when Novak Djokovic equalized at one set everywhere after finding himself trailing 6-2 3-0 opposing service to follow.
endless games
But Rafael Nadal was able to get up after an epic 2nd set, which was marked by a 1st game that lasted 13 minutes and a 6th that lasted no less than 18 minutes. The Manacor bull even clearly dominated the proceedings in the 3rd set, once again making the powder speak thanks to his fabulous forehand.
At its worst 3 weeks ago in Rome due to an injury, Rafael Nadal then came back from afar in the 4th round. He thus dismissed 2 equalizing balls in 2 sets everywhere at 5-3, on the opposing service, before forcing the decision in a perfectly negotiated tie-break.
ats/btro
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