Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal, French Open 2022 Live: 59th matchup on the horizon in quarters

00:26 (IST)

Pre-match: Nadal's coach Carlos Moya spoke to ATP's official website

"For me, on clay Rafa is always favourite, even when he retires (laughs). Of course, I’m part of the team and it’s difficult for me not to be biased. We always expect the best of Nadal and I think he’ll be at his best tomorrow so that he can win. It’s a very tough match, but we believe Rafa is ready."

"You have to play a high level of tennis, more than just tactics. It will go well if Rafa competes like he did in the last three games of the match against Auger-Aliassime. You have to maintain that intensity throughout to have chances against an opponent like Djokovic."

00:21 (IST)

Pre-match: Nadal after coming through in four-plus hours vs Felix Auger-Aliassime to setup Djokovic clash

"(It's) gonna be a big challenge for me. Of course he already won I think last nine matches in a row, winning in Rome and now winning here in straight sets every match. Probably he will be confident.

Yeah, I mean, I know how is my situation, and I accept it well. I gonna fight for it. No, no, that's it.

I can't complain much. I am in quarterfinals of Roland Garros. Two weeks and a half ago, even if I had good hopes after, positive hopes after Rome, I even don't know if I would be able to be here.

So just enjoying the fact that I am here for one more year. And being honest, every match that I play here, I don't know if gonna be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career, no? That's my situation now.

Of course I went through a tough process again with my foot, so I don't know what can happen in the near future with my career. But that's why I am just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream that is keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros, playing against the World No. 1.

Let's see. I hope to be able to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible and then let's see."

00:19 (IST)

Pre-match: Djokovic on Nadal after his fourth round win

"Nadal obviously well-anticipated match I think when the draw came out for a lot of people. I'm glad that I didn't spend too much time on the court myself up to quarterfinals, knowing that, you know, playing him in Roland Garros is always a physical battle, along with everything else. It happens. It's a huge challenge and probably the biggest one that you can have here in Roland Garros."

00:09 (IST)

By the numbers

23:59 (IST)

Coming into the match, the timing of the clash has been a hotly debated topic. Nadal has made it clear he would prefer playing in the day session while Djokovic hinted he doesn't mind an evening session considering it reduces Rafa's impact. [More] 

23:38 (IST)

Djokovic vs Nadal - Chapter 59

When the draw was made, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal found themselves in the same half. If both won their respective matches, a quarter-final meeting was on. And as it turned out, things have worked out that way despite Felix Auger-Aliassime's best efforts. So, a 59th meeting, most among men in the Open Era, will decide who goes on to face Alexander Zverev in the semi-final of the 2022 French Open.

Paris: Novak Djokovic renews his 16-year rivalry with Rafael Nadal at the French Open on Tuesday with a semi-final spot at stake and where victory for the world number one could end the 13-time champion's Roland Garros career.

Nadal, who turns 36 on Friday, puts his record of 109 wins and just three losses in Paris since his title-winning debut in 2005 on the line against the defending champion.

The Spaniard was taken to five sets for only the third time at the tournament by 21-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round.

In the immediate aftermath of that victory, Nadal admitted that not only was this year's French Open at stake but possibly his entire playing future.

Overall, Djokovic leads Nadal 30-28 since their first career meeting at the 2006 French Open.

Nadal has a 19-8 edge on clay and has won seven of the pair's nine meetings in Paris.

Djokovic, however, came out on top in the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2021 on his way to a second title.

Djokovic has reached the last eight with ease. He has won 22 sets in a row, a run stretching back to his Italian Open triumph in Rome.

While Djokovic, Nadal, Alexander Zverev and slain Carlos Alcaraz battle in the top of the draw, the bottom section has been blown wide open by the fourth-round exits of second-ranked Daniil Medvedev and number four Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up.

As a result, one of Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev or 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic will make Sunday's final.

(with inputs from AFP)

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