TennisToday

Rafael Nadal Defeats Novak Djokovic in Epic 5 Set Thriller in Semifinals at the French Open

French Open - Men's Semifinal

4 Rafael Nadal d 1 Novak Djokovic - 64 36 61 67(3) 9-7

Halfway thru the 5th set this was getting classified as an instant classic.

This baby was breathtakingly contested at an unreal high level.

And it should have been the final.

Rafa is going for an 8th French Open title.

No man in tennis history has 8 titles at any one given Slam.

A win would also put his Slam total at an amazing 12.

Today he also tied the record for most match wins at the French Open: 58.

Remember: Rafa has lost ONE match in 9 years at Roland Garros.

20's: At Rome a couple weeks ago he reached 20 wins over Federer.

Today he reached the same level over Nole - H2H: 20-15.

A win in Sunday's final would put him at 20 wins over Ferrer.

Post match: You need to love the game. You [need to] appreciate what

you are doing in every moment. I learned during all my career to

enjoy suffering, and these kind of matches are very special.

You don't have the chance to play these kind of matches every day.

So when these kind of matches happen you suffer,

but I really enjoy these moments.

Rafael Nadal Thru to Semifinals at French Open

French Open - Men's Quarterfinal

3 Rafael Nadal d 9 Stanislas Wawrinka - 62 63 61

Rafa won this match on the 8th anniversary of his 1st title (above).

Rafa is into his 8th French Open Sf: 7-0.

He'll face his main rival these days, Novak Djokovic - H2H 19-15/Rafa.

On clay: 12-3/Rafa. At the French Open: 4-0/Rafa. In finals: 8-8.

However... Since 2011 their H2H is 8-3/Nole.

And they've played once this year. On clay. Monte-Carlo final. Nole won.

So I'm going to say that Rafa is a bit of an underdog in this one.

Post match: So now I am in semi-finals, three matches in a row without

losing a set. The last two matches, I only lost one [game on] serve.

That's starting to be very positive numbers. Only numbers, but most

important thing at the end is the feeling, and the feeling is

completely different.  If I was not happy five days ago about my level,

today I say I am happy that I am in semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic Thru to Semifinals at French Open

French Open - Men's Quarterfinal

1 Novak Djokovic d 12 Tommy Haas - 63 76(5) 75

Nole has stated that this is the title he wants this year.

He is 2 wins away.

And it's kind of fitting that he'll have to go thru Rafa to get it too.

Seems tragically unfiiting that it's at the semifinal stage.

Post match: Now I have a big challenge in front of me & I'm ready for it.

I have been playing well. I know that this is the biggest challenge for me

in Roland Garros, no question about it,

and I'm sure that it's going to be quite a good match.

Rafael Nadal Celebrates 27th Birthday with $th Round Win at French Open

French Open - Men's Fourth Round

3 Rafael Nadal d 13 Kei Nishikori - 64 61 63

Rafa finally got a comfortable win in his 4 matches at Roland-Garros.

Rafa: Today I played a bit better than in the previous days.

He'll still needs to improve his level if he's to bite an 8th trophy.

Anyway after the match the tourney presented him a towering cake...

As the crowd serenaded him with a French version of Happy Birthday.

He is 5-0 on his actual birthday and improves his RG record to 56-1.

Rafa'll face Wawrinka in the Qf's - Stan hasn't won a set in 9 matches.

He is on course to play Novak in a blockbuster Sf match on Friday.

Most agree that the winner of that match will likely take the title.

Few Sf's have ever been so weighty - but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Rafa and Nole still have another match to win to get us there.

But they will. Of that I have no doubt.

Novak Djokovic is Waiting for the Rest of the Tour at Rome

With his early exit at Madrid Nole got to Rome sonner than expected.

He has great memories at Rome as a 2 time champ: '08 & '11.

Last year he was runner-up to Rafa in a straight set affair.

Surely there will be no early round upsets this coming week.

Look for Nole to be fresh and make a deep run.

Possibly even a trophy lift?

I'd love to see another edition of Nole/Rafa again before Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic Wins at Monte-Carlo and Ends Rafael Nadal's Eight Year Run

ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Men's Final

1 Novak Djokovic d 3 Rafael Nadal - 62 76(1)

Let's just hear from a happy Nole from his Facebook right up front:

Dreamed of winning this tournament for a long time!

Dear ATP World Tour, no need to ship my trophy, it stays right here :)

Meaning, at his home in Monte-Carlo:

This is Nole's 37th ATP title and his 8th on clay.

It's also his 14th Masters 1000 title out of 24 finals.

He's now won all the current M1000 titles except for at Cincinnati.

Where he has finished runner-up on 4 occasions.

Nole also closed the H2H gap on Rafa to 15-19.

He ties Rafa with most titles on the year with 3: Aussie Open & Dubai.

We will next see Nole at Madrid and Rafa next week at Barcelona.

Interesting to note - they could meet in the Qf's at Roland Garros.

Which would suck. Wake up RG seeding committee, seed Rafa #4.

Hello.

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic to Meet in 2013 Monte-Carlo Final

ATP MAsters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Men's Final Preview

1 Novak Djokovic vs 3 Rafael Nadal - H2H: 19-14/Rafa

Round 34 will be played on Rafa's turf. Well, Nole's turf too.

Rafa is going for a 9th straight title at MC and Nole has made MC his home.

Let's breakdown the head-to-head a little more:

Clay: 12-2/Rafa --- Finals: 8-7/Rafa --- at M-C: 2-0/Rafa

On paper it looks like Rafa's match. But he's still on the comeback trail.

It'll be a huge test. But Factor in Nole's ankle problem.

Who know's. I'd bet Rafa in a 3 set thriller. But really it's 50-50.

***

ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Men's Semifinals

3 Rafael Nadal d 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 63 76(3)

For the 2nd match in-a-row Rafa made a mess of the 2nd set.

Let's see... he served for it twice and had match point in 2 JW games.

Rafa will go for a 9th straight title in a tourney he calls his favorite.

It's amazing. It's unprecendented. It's historic.

***

ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Men's Semifinals

1 Novak Djokovic d Fabio Fognini - 62 61

What ankle injury?

Nole is in his 3rd MC final - he lost the last 2 to RafaL '09 & '12.

He is looking for his 14th M1000 title and 37th on the ATP tour.

His main focus this year is a title at Roland Garros.

This would be a major first step in obtaining that goal.

Rafael Nadal Wins Historic 7th Title at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Final

2 Rafael Nadal d 1 Novak Djokovic - 64 63 26 75

The case is closed - Rafa is the undisputed best player ever on clay.

He moved past Bjorn Borg with an historic 7th Roland Garros title.

In doing so Rafa started 2 new ties with Bjorn...

Rafa, Bjorn, Roger and Pete have all won Slams in 8 consecutive years.

With 11 Slams he, Borg & Laver are tied at 4th on the all-time Slam list.

Behind Federer (16), Sampras (14) and Emerson (12).

Also historic: No 2 men have ever played 4 successive Slam finals.

Rafa improves his H2H against Nole to 19/14 - winning the last 3.

Rafa post-match: I feel very lucky to have achieved all that I've achieved.

I have great rivals. There have been a lot of important matches...

I've been able to enjoy against fantastic players.

***

As for Novak, he will continue his run at #1.

He will also head to Wimbledon as the defender.

He'll also try to turn his Beijing bronze into London gold just after Wimby.

Novak post-match: Rafa is the best player ever on clay...

And he's one of the best players who have ever played this game.

We are young & hopefully can have many more battles over the next years.

A-hem, I think we may just get Rafa/Nole match #34 in a couple weeks.

Photos: FFT

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic to Meet in Final at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Semifinals

1 Novak Djokovic d 3 Roger Federer -64 75 63

2 Rafael Nadal d 6 David Ferrer - 62 62 61

EPISODE 33.

One of these boys will leave Paris with a piece of tennis history.

Novak can become the 3rd man to hold all for Slams at once.

Rafa can break his tie with Borg with most RG titles with 7.

It's on.

***

This is by far Rafa's best run into the final.

In 18 sets played he has only dropped 35 games. Less than 2 games a set.

He is gunning for his 7th RG title & 11th Slam.

Post match: There is no secret.

I worked hard all my life to enjoy the moments like today.

***

This is Novak's maiden Roland Garros final.

His road to Sunday has been rocky - he's played 2 5-setters.

And stared down and saved 4 match points against Tsonga.

Post match: It's always an effort & a challenge to be focussed and...

Take the maximum out of your abilities in these matches bt that is the ask.

***

1 Novak Djokovic vs 2 Rafael Nadal - H2H: 18-14/RN

They have played 3 times this year: 2-1/Rafa.

Both of Rafa's wins were on clay - in the finals of Monte Carlo & Rome.

This is the 4th straight Slam final between the two: 3-0/Novak.

Novak: There's a lot on the line. Always is when you play finals of a Slam.

Considering matches we've played v each other in last 15 months...

Expect another emotional match.

I am.

Photos: FFT

Rafael Nadal Wins 6th Masters 1000 Title at Rome

ATP Masters Series 1000 Rome - Final

2 Rafael Nada d 1 Novak Djokovic - 75 63

Rafa posted this photo on Facebook simply captioned:

Now at home... Very happy!!

The win lifts Rafa back over Roger Federer in 2 avenues:

He breaks their tie of 20 Masters 1000 title - this is Rafa's 21st.

And Rafa moves back up to #2 after Roger held it for a single week.

He will head to Roland Garros as the 2nd seed.

This is Rafa's 6th title at Rome and 49th title on the ATP tour.

After losing 7 in-a-row to Novak, Rafa has now won the last 2.

Their head-to-head now stands at 18-14 in Rafa's favor.

Rafa won 3 of the 4 clay tournaments he entered this year:

Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.

He must be considered the heavy favorite going into Paris.

No?

Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal to Play Monte-Carlo Final

ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Semifinals & Final Preview

1 Novak Djokovic d 6 Tomas Berdych - 46 63 62

2 Rafael Nadal d 9 Gilles Simon - 63 64

1 Novak Djokovic vs 2 Rafael Nadal - H2H: 16-14/RN

Welcome to episode #31 of this tangled and thrilling rivalry.

8 is the magic number tomorrow as these two contest yet another final.

Rafa is going for 8 straight titles in the Principality.

This is Rafa's fave tourny & he will not want to relinquish his coveted title.

Nor will he want to lose another match on clay to his current nemesis.

This is Rafa's 30th Masters 1000 final: 19-10.

Novak is gunning for his 8th consecutive victory over Rafa.

He's playing with a heavy heart as his beloved grandfather died this week.

He will play for him and try to win his 1st title in his adopted hometown.

This is Novak's 2nd M-C final: 0-1 - and 19th Masters 1000 final: 11-7.

They played once previously at M-C - Rafa won a 3-setter in the '09 final.

Battle #31 will be a cracker and is definitely not one to miss.

Photos: Rafa from Reuters & Novak from Getty Images