Paris: Novak Djokovic will be locking horns with Rafael Nadal in the final of the French Open on Sunday (October 11, 2020) as the Serbian emerged triumphant in the semi-final clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday (local time).
If Djokovic wins the French Open, then he will become the first man in half a century to win all four Grand Slams twice.
In the match against Tsitsipas, Djokovic won the first two sets comprehensively, but the fifth-seed Tsitsipas staged a comeback and won the third and fourth set, sending the match into the fifth and final set. In the final set, Djokovic staged a remarkable comeback to win 6-1 the match 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.
Earlier on Friday, twelve-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal reached his 13th Roland Garros final as he defeated Argentina`s Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3, 7-6.
With this win, Nadal also registered his 99th win at the Roland Garros. The Spaniard made his debut at the French Open in 2005 and he is now just one victory away from equalling Roger Federer`s all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles.
Novak Djokovic will be favourite to reach his 27th Grand Slam final when he faces Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open semis on Friday but what had been a smooth path through the draw has suddenly got a little rocky.
After his humiliating disqualification in the U.S. Open fourth round when he inadvertently struck a ball in frustration into the throat of a line judge, Djokovic`s French Open campaign has been remarkably uneventful.
But after winning his opening four matches without dropping a set he had to come from a set down to beat Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarter-finals, the player who directly benefited from his moment of madness in New York.
Djokovic, bidding for a second French Open and 18th Grand Slam title, still reached his 38th major semi-final relatively comfortably but for a set and a half against the obdurate Spaniard he struggled physically.
Afterwards he spoke of neck and shoulder problems and should he not be 100% fit against 22-year-old Tsitsipas, who is in only his second Grand Slam semi-final, it could be a long night on the Philippe Chatrier Court.
“I think Novak`s injury is a big worry,” former French Open champion Mats Wilander, a Eurosport analyst, said. “It`s a legitimate injury and if he doesn`t get a good start then that could be a problem.”
Tsitsipas, the fifth seed, was thrashed by Rafa Nadal in his previous Grand Slam semi-final last year in Melbourne, but ended 2019 by winning the prestigious ATP finals.
After a stuttering start in Paris when he trailed Spain`s Jaume Munar by two sets, Tsitsipas has been blemish-free, winning 15 consecutive sets although one was not completed after Aljaz Bedene retired injured in the third round.
Tsitsipas will need his renowned shot-making skills to break through the Djokovic wall, however, whether the Serb is fully fit or not. He has done it twice before in Masters 1000 events but has never met Djokovic on a Grand Slam stage.
Remarkably, Djokovic`s only “defeat” in 36 matches this year was his default, but he will be wary of a player hungry to make his Grand Slam breakthrough.
“He`s been playing the tennis of his life really in the last 12 months,” Djokovic said. “Winning World Tour Finals, just being very consistent on all surfaces with his results.I expect a really tough, tough match.”
Rafael Nadal gets the opportunity to avenge his only defeat in 10 meetings with Diego Schwartzman, which he suffered a little over two weeks ago, when Spain`s 12-time French Open winner faces the Argentine in the semi-finals at Roland Garros on Friday.
The Rome Masters was Nadal`s first tournament in seven months following the shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while the world number two was then striving to make his way back to match fitness, he is a different beast at Roland Garros.
The second seed, who is bidding to equal Roger Federer`s 20 Grand Slam titles, has only ever lost two matches at the claycourt major – to Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic – and has yet to lose a set en route to the semi-finals this year.
“He`s coming with big confidence,” Nadal said of the 28-year-old Schwartzman, who is seeded 12th at the French Open.
“Two weeks in a row… He`s in the final in Rome, he`s in the semi-finals here. He beat me there. It`s a plus of confidence for him. I know that.
“I`m going to try to go on court, play my best, try to play my game, play aggressive, try to do something a little bit different than what I did in Rome, of course. Hope to be ready to play my best. That`s what I need.”
Nadal`s coach Carlos Moya has said the Spaniard learnt from the Rome loss and will be ready for the Argentine.
Nadal, 34, has complained about the cold weather at the rescheduled Grand Slam, which is usually held in May-June, the new balls being used for this edition and the late finishes.
But the unusual conditions have had little impact on his performances as he has dropped just 34 games in his five wins.
Schwartzman reached his maiden Grand Slam semi-final after a five-hour victory over Austria`s U.S. Open winner Dominic Thiem, who lost the two previous Roland Garros finals to Nadal.
The 12th seeded Argentine was not too sure if his win in Rome would mean anything on Court Philippe Chatrier on Friday.
“If I see the history, I`m 10-1 down. I`m not sure if I`m going to have a lot of confidence,” he told reporters. “But I know this week that I can beat him. That`s the important thing.”
