Djokovic at Nadal, magsasagupa sa ika-59 na pagkakataon sa French Open blockbuster
(COMBO/FILES) This combination of file photographs created on May 30, 2022, shows (L) Spain's Rafael Nadal as he returns the ball to Netherland's Botic Van De Zandschulp during their men's singles match on day six of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris on May 27, 2022 and (R) Serbia's Novak Djokovic as he plays a backhand return to Argentina's Diego Schwartzman during their men's singles match on day eight of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Suzanne Lenglen in Paris on May 29, 2022. - Novak Djokovic renews his epic 16-year rivalry with Rafael Nadal at the French Open on May 31, 2022, with a semi-final spot at stake and where victory could end the 13-time champion's Roland Garros career. Nadal, who will turn 36 on June 3, 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. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT and JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
Muling nabuhay ang 16 na taon nang tunggalian sa pagitan nina Rafael Nadal at Novak Djokovic sa French Open, kung saan paglalabanan nila ang semi-final spot.
Si Nadal na magdiriwang ng kaniyang ika-36 na taong kaarawan sa Biyernes (June 3), ay may 109 na panalo at tatlong talo lamang sa Paris mula sa kaniyang title-winning debut noong 2005.
Sa kaniyang panalo laban sa 21-anyos na si Felix Auger-Aliassime para makapasok sa quarterfinals, inamin ni Nadal na hindi lamang ang French Open title ngayong taon ang nakataya kundi posibleng pati ang kabuuan ng kaniyang kinabukasan sa Tennis.
Ayon kay Nadal . . . “I know my situation, and I accept it. I am 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 it’s going to be my last at Roland Garros.”
Sa kabuuan, nangunguna si Djokovic kay Nadal sa record na 30-28 simula nang una silang magharap sa 2006 French Open. Mayroon namang 19-8 na kalamangan si Nadal sa clay court at nanalo na ng pito sa siyam nilang paghaharap ni Djokovic.
Ang dalawa ay kapwa maglalaro sa quarter-finals sa Roland Garros para sa ika-16 na pagkakataon.
Ayon kay Djokovic . . . “I’m glad that I didn’t spend too much time on the court up to the quarter-finals, knowing that playing Nadal in Roland Garros is always a physical battle.’
© Agence France-Presse
