Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

French Open: Rafael Nadal wins to set up Novak Djokovic quarter-final

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Sunday, 29 May 2022 11:45

Rafael Nadal set up a French Open quarter-final against long-time rival Novak Djokovic after winning an absorbing five-set battle with Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in Paris.

Spain's Nadal, 35, dropped sets for the first time at this year's event but recovered to win 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Top seed Djokovic moved up a gear to beat 15th seed Diego Schwartzman.

The 35-year-old Serb produced his best level so far in the tournament to win 6-1 6-3 6-3 in his fourth-round match.

Fifth seed Nadal fixed up a 59th career meeting with Djokovic - a men's record - by beating ninth seed Auger-Aliassime later on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev booked his place in the quarter-finals despite a patchy display against Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles as the third seed triumphed 7-6 (13-11) 7-5 6-3.

The 25-year-old German will next face the winner of Sunday's night session encounter between Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov.

Djokovic uses crowd energy to beat Schwartzman

Two-time champion Djokovic came into the French Open having played fewer tournaments than usual this year but is showing signs of peaking at exactly the right time.

Schwartzman, a 2020 semi-finalist, was supposed to be Djokovic's toughest test so far.

But Djokovic saw off the diminutive Argentine in a professional display that was less comfortable than the scoreline suggested.

Djokovic was deported from Australia and not allowed to play at the year's opening Grand Slam event, then banned from entering the United States to play at Indian Wells and Miami, because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19.

After an early exit on his competitive return at Monte Carlo, he has continued to improve since and came into the clay-court Grand Slam on the back of winning the Italian Open in Rome.

In Paris he started with straight-set wins against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka, Slovakia's Alex Molcan and Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene.

Despite his status as one the sport's all-time greats, Djokovic does not seem to enjoy the same amount of love at Roland Garros as Nadal or Switzerland's Roger Federer and a few boos were heard as walked on to court to face Schwartzman.

Schwartzman was backed by a noisy crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the second show court in Paris, and thrived off the energy in the opening stages.

Djokovic had to defend well to hold in his first service game and then broke in the next before rattling off three more games for the opening set.

Support continued to be vociferously in favour of Schwartzman, leaving Djokovic ironically nodding his 'approval' as he trailed 3-0 at the start of the second set.

Momentum quickly shifted back and a trademark roar from Djokovic, who seemed to be using the crowd's support of Schwartzman as added motivation, marked the moment he levelled at 3-3.

Three more games capped a superb turnaround and, after a tight start to the third set, Djokovic broke for a 4-2 lead that enabled him to extend his 100% record over Schwartzman to a seventh match.

Zverev sees off qualifier Zapata Miralles

In contrast to Djokovic's dominant display, Zverev just about produced enough quality amid an often error-strewn performance to end the run of unseeded Spaniard Zapata Miralles.

The straight-set scoreline slightly flattered the German, who hit 63 unforced errors and eight double faults but came good on the majority of the match's big moments, hitting 34 winners to his opponent's 13.

Ultimately, his superb conversion rate of taking eight of nine break-point opportunities proved the difference, particularly in a marathon 62-minute first set that Zverev edged 13-11 on a tie-break.

World number 131 Zapata Miralles, who had won only one Grand Slam match before this tournament, twice edged ahead with service breaks in the second set but lost five of seven games from 4-2 up.

More to follow.

Read 218 times

Soccer

Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL Championship

Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL Championship

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Barbra Banda's goal stood up as the winner to l...

Ipswich vs Man United: VAR stopped by fire alarm

Ipswich vs Man United: VAR stopped by fire alarm

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsVAR was temporarily suspended during Manchester United's clash at I...

Amorim era begins with fastest Utd goal of season

Amorim era begins with fastest Utd goal of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim was made to wait just 81 seconds for the first goal of...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Ball's career-best 50 not enough as Hornets fall

Ball's career-best 50 not enough as Hornets fall

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLaMelo Ball became the third-youngest player in NBA history, and th...

Baseball

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated