The Spanish Rafael Nadal fell in the semifinals of Roland Garros by 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) and 6-2, in four hours and 11 minutes, against the Serbian Novak Djokovic, who will play the final against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
It is the third defeat suffered by Nadal in Paris in 108 games, the second at the hands of the Serbian, world number 1, the The only one who has managed to defeat him on French clay with Swedish Robin Soderling.
It was after an immense match, a tribute to clay tennis between the two best tennis players on that surface, an extraordinary award for the Serbian that, finally, he managed to defeat the Spanish in full capacity.
In 2015 he did it with a physically and psychologically diminished Rafa and the others were all triumphs of the Spanish.
It was a duel in which the two tennis players showed that they are capable of breaking the laws of tennis, pandemic laws, laws of nature. The public was able to attend the show until the end, because the authorities allowed it despite the curfew.
Nadal took out the steamroller from the start, lifted two break balls and put the direct to get 5-0. The Serbian took 35 minutes to score a point, but when he did, he chained 3, after hitting the fifth break ball and lifting two set points from the Spaniard.
Nadal did not break down,saved his next serve to close the sleeve, one hour after the start.
Djokovic’s improvement at the end of the first set was confirmed in the second, the Serbian was more incisive, more established in his service and, above all, more aggressive in the rest, which made blood in Nadal’s game, forced to go to the limit.
The Spanish defended himself and created his opportunities, but he was not fine at the time of writing them down. Up to five breaking balls wasted, for a single scored.
Painful draw for Nadal
The tie did not sit well with Nadal, blurred, timid with his service, attacked with the rest, who did not carburize, which gave wings to the Serbian, aggressive to the rest, always putting pressure on the Spanish, who seemed doomed to drift.
Night was falling in Paris and Nadal was giving his worst face, hanging by a thread, waiting for a blow from the Serbian, clinging on with courage, subjected to merciless harassment.
With 5-4 served Djokovic to take the partial, but Nadal always sells his skin expensive. He reacted to tie at 5 and accelerated to enjoy, in the next game, a set ball.
The Serbian rebuilt, lifted it and forced the playoff game, where it was more solid to place 2-1.
The show was tremendous on the track and the bleachers didn’t want to miss it. “We’re not leaving, we’re not leaving!” the 5,000 authorized fans chanted, as the 23:00 curfew approached.
As the players retired to the locker room, when the float was about to become a pumpkin, the public address system announced against all odds that, according to the French authorities, they could stay. It seemed difficult to evacuate. Applause and cheers in the stands, joy to continue watching the fantastic duel of the titans. “¡Thank you Macron!” and let the show continue.
La Marseillaise sounds and the battle continues. Give and take. He started hitting the Spaniard, who snatched the service of the number 1, but his reaction was quick, he recovered it to the fourth and there his best version appeared, the one he needed to defeat the 13-time champion.
Nadal asks for assistance
Nadal asked for assistance to remove a bandage from his left foot and Djokovic smelled the blood, advanced pawns and cornered the Spaniard, who saw how waterways were again opening on his waterline.
The night was already closed and the public felt that they were witnessing a historical moment. His breath was not enough. The ovation when he retired was emotional. Tomorrow, when he dawns again in Paris, the only Nadal that can be seen at Roland Garros will be the steel one that, forever, adorns the tournament as a tribute to the king.
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