Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic close in on French Open semi-final blockbuster
Nine-time champion Spaniard and defending champion will set up a semi-final blockbuster if they get through their last-eight clashes
Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic will set up a French Open semi-final blockbuster if they get through their last-eight clashes on Tuesday.
Djokovic the master of Thiem
Novak Djokovic hopes his fledgling partnership Andre Agassi can inspire the Serb back to his very best. Agassi has left Paris already, but the defending champion is firmly in the hunt for a 13th grand slam title. Aside from a third-round wobble against Diego Schwartzman, it’s largely been plain sailing for Djokovic to this stage.
Dominic Thiem remains the only player to beat Rafael Nadal on clay this season, but the Austrian’s shock win at the Rome Masters was swiftly followed by a 6-1, 6-0 humiliation against Djokovic.
Head-to-head
Djokovic leads 5-0
Thiem says: “I have to change something compared to the last matches. I will talk to my coach, to my team. Then maybe change something up and hope that I play a good match on Tuesday.”
Djokovic says: “Obviously never losing to a player always helps mentally a little bit, but I don’t think it’s gonna play too big of a role, actually. I think he really will step it up and try to do something special.”
Fast facts
Thiem: Age – 23; World ranking – 7; Prize money – $7,049,918; Career titles – 8, Grand slam titles – 0; French Open best – Semi-final (2016)
Path to the quarter-final
Thiem
1st rd: bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
2nd rd: bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 7-5, 6-1, 6-3
3rd rd: bt Steve Johnson (USA x25) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
4th rd: bt Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-1, 6-3, 6-1
Djokovic
1st rd: bt Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
2nd rd: bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
3rd rd: bt Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
4th rd: bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP x19) 7-5, 6-1, 6-3
Nadal takes on Spanish pal
Head-to-head
Nadal leads 3-0
Nadal says: “For me, the only thing is I am in the quarter-finals, and I am healthy and I am playing well. The rest doesn’t matter.”
Carreno Busta says: “If I think that I don’t have chances, I will not play. Rafa is maybe the best player on this surface in history, and he’s playing really good, but I will try.”
Fast facts
Nadal: Age – 31; World ranking – 4; Prize money – $83,573,172; Career titles – 72, Grand slam titles – 14, French Open best – Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Path to the quarter-final
Nadal
1st rd: bt Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-1
2nd rd: bt Robin Haase (NED) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
3rd rd: bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-0, 6-1, 6-0
4th rd: bt Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x17) 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
Carreno Busta
1st rd: bt Florian Mayer (GER) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
2nd rd: bt Taro Daniel (JPN) 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
3rd rd: bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x11) 7-5, 6-3, 6-4
4th rd: bt Milos Raonic (CAN x5) 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 8-6