The 13-time champion of the tournament will have to play in the quarterfinals against the Serbian on Tuesday night (not before 8:45 p.m.) despite his complaints
Rafael Nadal lost the first battle before entering this Tuesday night at the Philippe Chatrier to face Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros. The first duel in the fight for the title will be played in the worst conditions for the 13-time champion of the tournament after the organization confirmed that the match would be played this Tuesday, at night (not before 8:45 p.m., Eurosport) .
From the moment that Nadal Y Djokovic won their matches on Sunday, a fight began over the schedule. On the one hand, the tennis players who wanted to avoid playing under the spotlight of the Philippe Chatrier and, on the other, the most important, of the television channels that broadcast the tournament: Amazon Prime, which has the rights to the new night shift, and France TV, which which offers all the rest of the tournament in open for France.
Disrespect?
Nadal He already knew that his complaints had fallen on deaf ears when he trained on the Jean Bouin slopes, near Roland Garros, on Monday. It was of little use to have a statue of him in the Roland Garros facilities or to have won 13 titles. Disrespect?
“I wouldn’t call it disrespectful. Rafa has credit and if she has a request, we have to listen to her. It is part of the history of Roland Garros. We know that no one is above the tournament, no one is more important. In the end, everything is a business issue and we understand it & rdquor ;, he valued Carlos Moya to RM Sports radio in the face of this harmful situation for his pupil.
Amélie Mauresmoformer player and new director of the tournament, decided to confirm the night schedule and justified it with the offer she had made at the end amazonwhich pays 15 million euros a year, for offering the game open to all of France.
The decision of the private chain was the perfect excuse before the request of Nadal. He wasn’t the only one who had complained. he did too Carlos Alcaraz before the possibility of playing against Alexander Zverev in the last turn. “It would be unfair” complained the Murcian tennis player.
Djokovic He was more conciliatory. “We all ask for things, but they are not always accepted. The direction of the tournament and the televisions in the end are the ones that decide. If they want to see you play day or night, you have to accept it and adapt.”
very different conditions
The world number 1 knows that playing at that time benefits his game. The night in Paris at this time is still cold and wet. at 12 degrees Celsius, like these past days, the track is slower and heavier. The ball bounces less and the effects lose effectiveness and that harms the challenge it faces Nadal.
One more complication to add to Nadal’s foot problems, especially if the match, as it can happen, lasts more than three hours. The effort that awaits you will be monumental.
“It will be a great challenge for me. It is very difficult to play against Djokovic but I also come from a not very ideal situation. He arrives better than me, but I will go out to run and believe in my options. The bottom – referring to the foot – is an uncertainty, ”said Nadal after wearing himself out in a battle of more than four hours on Sunday with Auger-Aliassime.
58 clashes
Nadal and Djokovic They have met 58 times. The first time in his career at Roland Garros was in 2006, when at 19, he was the youngest to reach the quarters. He retired with 6-4 and 6-4 against. Since then in Paris he has only won two matches against Nadal. In 2015 (7-5, 6-3, 6-1) and last year (3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2). Both in the semifinals. He feels capable and ready to do it for the third time.
alcaraz, sure
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Far from controversy. alcaraz Y Zverev they will face each other in the last shift of the day shift (not before 4:00 p.m.). alcaraz He was tremendously confident in beating the German tennis player. The good memory of his last victory a few weeks ago in the final in Madrid, where he won with resounding ease against a Zverev who walked through the Caja Mágica, upset with the ATP and the organization of the Madrid tournament for making him play at night.
“The game will have nothing to do with it. I’m waiting for the best Zverev but I feel ready to beat him& rdquor ;, he assured alcaraz. If he succeeds, he will be able to calmly see who will be his rival in the semifinals. “It will be amazing to see Djokovic and Nadal but I am focused on my quarter-final match,” he noted.