Defending champion Rafael Nadal is closing in on a 14th Roland Garros final as he prepares to face Novak Djokovic in Friday’s semifinals.
It is a repeat of last year’s final which Rafa won 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to win a fourth consecutive French Open title. Rafa has won seven of eight matches against the Serb at Roland Garros, with the only loss coming in the 2015 quarterfinals.
Date: June 11, 2021
Match Time: Not before 5:30 PM local time / 11:30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 4:30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 5:30 PM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / misnight AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
It will be the 58th installment of one of the great rivalries in tennis history, with Nole currently leading the head-to-head series 29-28. Rafa is 5-0 in their last four clay-court encounters.
Rafa on playing Nole:
“Always a big challenge. That’s something that is good because in some way we are practising, we are living the sport for these moments. So that’s a good thing. The negative thing, it’s difficult because you play against one of the best players of the history. That’s how it is.
“We know each other well. Everybody knows that in these kind of matches, anything can happen. The player who is playing better that day is the player that going to have better chances, no?”
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Come on Champion take him to the cleaners
I think it’s the match here😭😭😭😭
😭😭 I had to turn my TV off. I refused to watch NJ’s celebration.
With you win or lose Rafa❤️
HAHAHA
So I go take a shower, I come back and Rafa is still on serve at break point?
Okay!!
Break point saved, then an Ace, and our Champ is back in front. OKAY!!
I need some vitamin C:)
🤣🤣
Good luck Lorna, Mac n Margo for the rest of match…I think I can’t watch any more
3rd set gone
Please don’t get broken now
There!!
Rafa Breaks!!
Gonna take a shower instead of watching him serve now…
Saved 2 break points again
N finally Rafa has Upper hand in third set after A long time…..phewwwwww
Come on Rafa Take this game
If Rafa wins this set it would be at par of his 4th set against nole in Aus open 12
Lifeline! Now go for it.
Tie breaker it is
Rafa seemed to increase the power in his shots in that 9th game.
Regardless of whether there is a 5th set, Rafa needs to go up another level or else he’s heading home early.
Rafa never seized to amaze me as he increased his level to deny him second set… Vamos
Djokovic looks like a man who can’t believe his own luck. He knows he can’t hold a candle to Rafa on this court and yet here he is about to go 2 sets to 1 up on Rafa.
Rafa needs to process this information.
🤬If I had a racket I would smash it!..Not watching iRafa better get it together on the 4 set!
Yea Rafa does need a reset. He’s his own worst nightmare out there now.
He is coming back Mac
Can’t watch any more. Too much stress
this match needs a break nadal needs a reset
WOW… after that break of serve Rafa gets broken straight back to love.
Ridiculous. WAKE UP CHAMP!!
A King does not stand idly while his kingdom gets plundered Rafa!!
Third set gone almost 🤪🤪🤪
Novak is going cross court a lot and mixing up the pace, hoping for Rafa to make an error.
Hang on champ, and stay patient. There you go Rafa, a break!! VAMOS!!
Now protect your serve please, and you will get more chances.
Stay strong RAFA!!
Come on champ, Rafa you are the KING!!
Don’t make this easy for him!
Mac on a positive note Rafa is playing bad after 1st but still matching Novak
Novak is dictating proceedings and Rafa is having to wirk so hard for every point. I think that Novak is ytelling himself that the pressure is all on Rafa.
Broken again 😭😭😭
he is making too much errors with his backhand. And his first serve is just really bad
Five break points squandered in the last two Djokovic service games. Rafa can’t afford to do that against Djokovic who is staying relatively calm and dictating the points. The good thing is that he’s serving first in the third.
HOLD ON RAFA!
Is it just me or does Djokovic look as if he is out of breath after a rally? Rafa is giving him time to catch his breath because he takes long to serve?
I think we need to get scared bcz Rafa is having many unforced errors
Not sure but we’ve been here before. Novak seems unphased and Rafa looks flustered.
I don’t know who’s wirse, Novak and his ball bouncing or Rafa taking too long between points.
Finally broke back..come on Rafa
Margo Even I am a doctor I am having Anxiety like in 2013 semi
Every time Rafa hits into the net my stomach turns over. What would it take for Rafa to come alive. He cannot give in to his doubts. No, I’m not nervous…yet.
He missed two more chances to break back.Tell me when we last time saw Rafa with more unforced errors
now the third set who wins the third set wins the match
You’re watching the wrong match. IT’S BEST OF 5!!
We are even After two sets
Come on champ show him who is best on this court
rafa needs more first serves