Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal – Quarter-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2022 French Open
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THE FACTS
When is Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal will take place on Tuesday 31st May, 2022 – not before 19:45 (UK)
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal taking place? Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal will take place at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France
What surface is Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal being played on? Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
What channel is Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal on in the UK? Eurosport will be televising major matches so it is worth checking their schedule for Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
Where can I stream Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal in the UK? discovery+ subscribers can stream Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal live while the match can be streamed on Eurosport Player and Amazon Prime Video if it is televised
THE LOWDOWN
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
World number one Novak Djokovic conceded just seven games to Diego Schwartzman on Sunday to reached the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros without yet dropping a set. The 35-year-old is the defending champion at Roland-Garros after stunning Rafael Nadal in four sets in the semi-finals last season before coming back from two sets down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. Djokovic also won the tournament in 2016 to make up two of his total 20 Grand Slam titles – four of which he has won in finals against Nadal
RAFAEL NADAL
World number five Rafael Nadal dropped the first set of his round of 16 clash with the ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime before a fightback to go 2-1 up and then double-down in the decider. The 35-year-old is a 13-time champion at Roland-Garros with, remarkably, just three defeats here in now 18 appearances: to Robin Soderling in 2019 and Djokovic last season and at this very stage of the tournament back in 2015. Nadal came back from a long injury-lay-off at the start of the season in insatiable form, winning his first three tournaments on tour including a Men’s record-breaking 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
THE PREDICTION
It has come too early in the tournament but at least it has come at all: 13-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal takes on the defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic for a staggering 59th time in their careers, with Djokovic’s victory in the semi-finals last season extending his lead in their head-to-head record 30-28. There are so many parameters to consider here down to whether or not the match is played in the day, which favours Nadal, or (as it has now been announced) as the showcase night match on Phillippe-Chatrier, which favours Djokovic. The Serb has been perfect so far this campaign, albeit relatively unchallenged, whilst Nadal came close to an early exit against Felix Auger-Aliassime that could either help or hinder him here depending on how well he recovers by Tuesday.
Almost half of their meetings have come on clay, 27 in total, with Nadal winning 19 of them. However, his dominance on this surface has waned slightly in recent seasons and especially against Djokovic, whose victory here last season felt like something a shift in their history before Nadal miraculously won in Melbourne back in January. Perhaps meeting Djokovic earlier in the tournament is actually a blessing in disguise for the Spaniard as the constant threat of his recurring foot injury could raise its ugly head later in the week. This does feel like one of the tougher matches to call between the two in recent years with plenty of outside factors but Roland-Garros will back Nadal to the hilt here and that could frustrate the defending champion. Back both players to win at least a set and leave the winner up to chance, although if pushed it is harder to see Djokovic lose here than Nadal.
