Rafael Nadal downs Novak Djokovic in their marquee quarterfinal clash at the French Open on Tuesday.
Nadal won the 59th installment of the legendary rivalry 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) in a match that began Tuesday night and finished after 1 a.m Wednesday morning in Paris.
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The Spaniard thus set up a semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev, who sent Carlos Alcaraz packing earlier in the day.
MAKE IT 30-29 🔥🔥🔥@RafaelNadal wins the battle against the World No. 1 @DjokerNole 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 and is now into the #RolandGarros semi-final! 🙌@rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/tZ5oDHu67U
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 31, 2022
“It has been a very emotional night for me. I’m still playing for nights like today,” Nadal said in his post-match press conference.
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“But it’s just a quarter-final match, no? So I didn’t win anything.
“So I just [need to] give myself a chance to be back on court in two days, play another semifinals here in Roland Garros. [It] means a lot to me.”
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The Spaniard led by a set and a double break before Djokovic stormed back to level, but Nadal reasserted himself with a dominant third set.
It was the World No. 1 who started strongest in the fourth, but Nadal saved two set points to deny his attempt to serve out the set and force a decider.
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Three days ahead of his 36th birthday, Nadal powered to victory in a one-sided tie-break.
“He showed why he’s a great champion,” Djokovic said in press.
“Staying there mentally tough and finishing the match the way he did. Congrats to him and his team. No doubt he deserved it.”
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Nadal avenged his semi-final loss one year ago at Roland Garros — the most recent meeting between the pair.
By ending Djokovic’s title defence, Nadal moves within two victories of a record-extending 14th Roland Garros title and 22nd major crown.
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Had Djokovic advanced, he would have had a golden opportunity to tie Nadal by winning his 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal improved to 29-30 in this ATP Head2Head series by breaking serve seven times on 17 chances, including twice in each of the first three sets.
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He saved eight of the 12 break points he faced.
The Spaniard has now won consecutive matches of four-plus hours. After defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday after four hours and 20 minutes, he moved past Djokovic in four hours and 11 minutes.
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