In a similar match to last year’s semifinal, this time it was Rafael Nadal that outlasted Novak Djokovic at RolandGarros. chrisjalmeida & jon_wertheim on Nadal’s French Open quarterfinal win
. Last year, he was physically fading at the end of the match and this time, despite a bad injury to his foot, he looked great and pulled out a four-set win: 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 .This is part of the beauty of the rivalry. It can all be Magic 8 Ball signs. We’re looking to favor Djokovic, he hasn’t lost in 22 straight sets. It was thought he would have a much easier time here. He didn’t have the foot injuries, he was rounding into form, he got a night match.
Now, in 51 of the 59 matches the player who won the first set won the match. Djokovic looked to be the one who was a little confused and a little uncomfortable. And he honestly was lucky to win the set that he did win. Nadal had a double break to start that second set. And in some ways, it was a mystifying performance for the defending champion. Given that everything was breaking Djokovic’s way [heading into the match]—Nadal had a long fourth-round match, and is a year older, and was playing in Djokovic’s favored conditions, and Djokovic got him the last time they played here—I was surprised that he didn’t have a bit more energy and a few more answers. And some of this is a testament to their rivalry.
He told this to me the other day: this could be my last match. I have to pretend that this could be my last match on this great court. Now, is that true? It probably isn’t, but I think that’s one way he sort of outwitted himself and put him in the headspace where he thinks:I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. And it’s O.K. if I never play again.