yesterday 23:23
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The highest-ranked Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic will be the opponent of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday in the men’s singles final at Roland Garros. In the thrilling semifinals, he defeated the tournament three and four-time title defender Rafael Nadal 3: 6, 6: 3, 7: 6 (4). He will fight for the nineteenth grand slam trophy in Paris.
Duel Novak Djokovic – Rafael Nadal you could watch ONLINE on SPORT.sk >>
Djokovic repaid Nadal last year’s final loss, ending his four-year hegemony and a 33-match winning streak on Parisian clay. He adjusted the mutual balance with a big rival to 30:28. For thirteen-time champion Roland Garros, this is only the third loss in the tournament. In 2015, he lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals, in 2009 he finished in the eighth final on the racket of the Swede Robin Soderling.
Nadal faced two breakball balls right in the opening game of Friday’s duel with Djokovic, but he turned them away thanks to two quality passes. In another game, after a series of excellent left-wing forehands, he broke Djokovic’s hand along the line and, after confirming the break, built up a 3-0 lead. In the next game, he took service from Srb again and led 5: 0 in the first set. Djokovic fought, reduced to 3: 5 in the next minutes, but Nadal managed the end, although he turned only in the seventh place.
In the second act, Djokovic improved the length of the strokes, a two-handed backhand began to come out along the line, and Nadala got into a tight spot. In the second and sixth games of Spaniard, he broke the set and won the set in his favor. Djokovic was a more active player in the court at these moments, dictating the pace of exchanges. Nadal was not completely in his skin, he made atypical mistakes from the forehand at important moments.
Rafael Nadal
Source: SITA
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He lost service again in the third set at 2: 2. Immediately after that he countered the ribs and equalized to 3: 3, but subsequently he did not even get a fiftin during his own service. Djokovic was close to turning the advantage of a break in a 2: 1 lead into sets. He led 5: 3, with a score of 5: 4 on his own 30: 0. However, Nadal fought well, turned to 6: 5 and got to the set-up when Djokovic was served. However, the Serb turned him away with a stopball, so the secret of the set, in which Djokovic had the upper hand, had to decide on the win of the set.
At the beginning of the fourth act, the Serb lost 0: 2, but then he won six games in a row and advanced to the sixth final of Paris. He recorded a jubilee 80th winning match against Royal Garros against Nadal, where he triumphed in 2016.
“I played one of the most amazing matches of my career. It’s a privilege for me to be a part of it. The spectators were great, they gave us a lot of energy and cheered on both players. The atmosphere was fantastic. I had to do my best to beat it. Rafu Nadal at the Philipp Chatrier Center. It’s an extremely challenging task. At important moments, I was able to keep a cool head, the service kept me going. “ Djokovic said in a post-match interview with former French tennis player Cedric Piolin.
Singles Semifinals:
Novak Djokovic (Srb.-1) – Rafael Nadal (Šp.-3) 3:6, 6:3, 7:6 (4), 6:2
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