Roland-Garros: Nadal-Djokovic, their duel in figures

When you reach such heights, the numbers are bound to make you dizzy. The years go by, the young people grow and Rafael Nadal, 35, and Novak Djokovic, 34, meet this Friday to compete for a place in the Roland-Garros final. For these two, it's almost routine… “Every time we meet face to face, there is this little extra tension, these extra expectations…, smiles Djokovic. The vibrations are different when you go out on the court with him. The first meeting between the two monsters on the ATP circuit took place… in Paris. In 2006, Djokovic threw in the towel after two sets (4-6, 4-6, ab.).

0.

Whoever wins, he will have to face a novice in the final on Sunday.

The other semi-final opposes Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.

If the German reached the final of the US Open 2020 (beaten by Thiem), the Greek has never reached the final meeting of a Major.

Last year, Djokovic had stopped his way in the semifinals.

1.

In eight attempts, Novak Djokovic has only beaten Nadal once at Roland Garros.

It was in the quarterfinals, in 2015. In their 44th duel, the Serbian had outclassed the Spaniard, who had nothing that year of the king of clay (7-5, 6-3, 6- 1).

The royal road to the Coupe des Mousquetaires.

But that was without counting Wawrinka ...

Read also Roland-Garros: Djokovic, at the origins of his fury to win

5.

Djokovic has not managed to defeat the ogre of Manacor on his surface for five years.

The last earthly victory of the world n ° 1 dates back to the Masters 1000 in Rome in May 2016 (7-5, 7-6).

Since then, Nadal has won five times, including the Roland-Garros express final in 2020.

11.

Novak Djokovic is playing his 11th semi-final at Roland Garros this Friday.

That is as much as at the US Open and two more than at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

Biggest rivalries in tennis (Open era, 👨)

1️⃣ Djokovic - Nadal: 57 games⭐️

2️⃣ Djokovic - Federer: 50 games

3️⃣ Federer - Nadal: 40 games

4️⃣ Djokovic - Murray: 36 games

4️⃣ Lendl - McEnroe: 36 games

➡️ La 1/2 between Djokovic and Nadal will be their 58th confrontation pic.twitter.com/Bodp6a4YuC

- Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) June 9, 2021

14.

Rafael Nadal approaches his 14th semi-final Porte d'Auteuil.

He won all the previous ones and then dominated all the finals.

20.

In the race for GOAT (recognition by observers of the best player of all time), Nadal and Federer have 20 major titles and Djokovic 18. Suffice to say that if one of the two protagonists lifts the trophy on Sunday in front of Tsitsipas or Zverev , the course of history may be changed.

A victory for Nadal would place him alone on the throne.

A success for Djokovic would give him the hope of coming back to the duo before the end of the year ...

45.

Djokovic spent forty-five minutes more than Nadal on the court during his first five games (12:31 against 11:46).

The Belgradois let slip three sets, the Spaniard only one against Scwhartzman in the quarterfinals.

Very happy to be in QF !!

Go !!

🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️🇫🇷 #RolandGarros #NoleFam pic.twitter.com/L5jh05HzCE

- Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 7, 2021

58.

This will be the 58th duel between Djokovic and Nadal, the most prolific rivalry in tennis history, ahead of Djokovic-Federer and Federer-Nadal.

Led 28-29, the Mallorcan has the opportunity to come back to the height of his opponent.

On clay, the balance is largely favorable (19-7).

"Rafa is probably the biggest rival of my career", summarizes the Serbian.

105.

This is one of the most breathtaking numbers in the history of tennis, ongoing series.

Rafael Nadal has won 105 of the 107 matches he has played in western Paris since his first appearance in 2005. His two losses came in the round of 16 2009 (against the Swede Söderling) and in the 2015 quarter (against Djokovic) .