The rivalry the world has been waiting for for nine days, when Roland Garros ’main draw was drawn and determined by the chance that their paths could cross in the fifth round, is now real. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, two of the best players of all time, will face off this Tuesday in the brick dust of Philippe Chattier. The Spaniard, owner of 21 “majors” and King of Paris, with 13 crowns, and the Serbian, number one in the world and winner of 20 Majors, will clash in the quarterfinals of the French Grand Slam in a duel with a lot of history , which will mark the 59th chapter in one of tennis’s biggest duel.

Nadal, number five in the world, survived this Sunday in a very tough test against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, ninth in the ranking and trained by Toni, uncle and one of the great people responsible for Rafa’s amazing career. The Mallorcan didn’t have a good start, but when he was complicated, he showed his mental strength, played great tennis and unleashed the fighting spirit that always characterized him. He grew at the right time and sealed victories 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3, after four hours and 21 minutes of fighting, showing superlative levels in the final games and all. . your hierarchy.

Djokovic, world ranking leader and defending champion, became easier in his round of 16 bout against Diego Schwartzman, the last Argentine still on the road to the French capital. The small, 16th in the ranking and semifinalist in this tournament in 2020, was unarmed to face a Serbian version that dominated his serving, devastating the comeback, set the pace of the game from the start and only let him win seven game -with a break on eight occasions- in two hours and 15 minutes that the match lasted. It was a very clear 6-1, 6-3 and 6-3 for Nole, who entered the top eight of the tournament for the 13th consecutive edition.

“The first set was terrible. I worked hard for. I had opportunities at the beginning of the game, but I couldn’t take advantage of them and it was very difficult for me. But I’m happy. It has been a long time since I competed at this level in an extreme situation, as I am experiencing now. In the last four games I have improved a lot, I have played more aggressively and I have achieved what I have not yet achieved in the good part of the game, playing Felix from a difficult position and, most of all, dominating my driving and getting to net when I can. I’m proud of the habit at the end. It was an important achievement for me, “Nadal reviewed in an ESPN chat.

“Diego is a great guy off the pitch and a great competitor, I have a lot of respect for him. The conditions were not easy, especially in the beginning, I knew how complicated it was. He pushed hard and asked to me, and that took me to get the best I could get. I’m happy with the way I’m feeling, how I’m hit the ball, focused on what I have to do “, commented Djokovic, who has not yet also give up sets, many more to come before than the Majorcan duel on Tuesday.

How different were his achievements this Sunday, nole came as a favorite in that encounter. He also takes advantage of Rafa in the past if you look at what everyone experienced on the way to the big slow-court event on the calendar.

Is that so Rafa needed to rest after Indian Wells to recover from a rib stress fracture, and played only two run-up tournaments at Roland Garros, the Masters 1000 in Madrid, where he lost in the quarterfinals, and in Rome, where he fell in the second round. And Nole, who missed the most important open at the start of the year due to his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19, was able to play the entire brick dust tour, where he was a finalist in the ATP in Belgrade, a semifinalist in Madrid and champion of Rome.

however, Nadal’s massive story in Paris leveled the balance. It is that the Spaniard is empowered when he steps on the orange court Bois de Boulogne, where no one has won more than him and where he has only lost three games since he debuted in 2005 (he owns a 105-3 record). Regardless of how he came about and whatever rivals he had to face, Rafa at Roland Garros was always a candidate.

“It’s very hard to play against Djokovic and carry things out in one’s mind. I came from a not -so -ideal situation and he came from shouting champion to Roma, but this is what he’s holding on to. It’s going to be a unique match. I’m already excited to play it. Of most of the games we’ve played here, I’ve been the favorite or been 50-50. In this one, he will be the favorite, as in 2015. But anything can happen in the sport and it’s Roland Garros. At this point in the tournament, maybe another rival is better, but this is what it is. I will be ready to run and believe that my options are in front of him. And the only thing I can be sure of is that I will fight until the end, “said Nadal.

Meanwhile, Djokovic hopes: “The clash against Rafa is highly anticipated. I’m glad I didn’t spend too much time on the track until quarterfinals. Playing against him at Roland Garros has always been a physical battle., plus everything else. This is a big challenge. Probably the biggest you can get here. I’m ready for it. “

The quarterfinal clash was the 59th in history between the twothe oldest in the history of tennis, that is the Serbian leads with 30 wins. On the 18th they will play in a Grand Slam, a record in this category of tournaments for rivalry between two players. And the tenth they will play in Parisian brick dust, where the Spaniard leads with seven wins, three of them in the finals (2012, 2014 and 2020).

Although it is worth remembering that Djokovic is the only player who was able to beat Nadal more than once in this tournament. The first time was in the 2015 quarterfinals, when he won three sets. And the second, in the semis last year, when he won four sets toward his 19th “big.”

There was a lot of speculation in the preview about what time the battles were scheduled if it was time for them to play with each other. It turns out that Nadal has always preferred to play in the sun in Paris; while Djokovic was more comfortable at night. However, the conditions he presented today in the tournament in France seemed to have changed the mind of the Serbian.

“Now I’d rather play during the day than at nine at night. The conditions are very different. It’s colder, slower. Less rebound, at night it’s probably slower, which is more in Nadal’s favor”, Serb comment.

The Spaniard affirmed his preference: “I understand Roland Garros with sunshine, not in night sessions, that’s how my whole life and I want to be able to play like that.”

Although the time has not yet been agreed, the appointment is scheduled. Roland Garros will be the scene on Tuesday of a new chapter of the biggest rivalry in tennis history. A new duel between Rafael Nadal, the great King of Paris, and Novak Djokovic, the current champion. A clash between two living racket legends. Safety pin.