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!
It wasn’t Rafa.
Chin up Champ and get ready for your next battle.
Yes! Rafa is the REAL champion win or lose.🥰
I said it before the match this time it felt different …………..forget it man I don’t even know what to say ! This is killing me bye
The latter part of Mac’s post …The reality check part says it all! Of course I’m sad but come on he’s won it 13 times! He was bound to have a bad day at the office & Novak took advantage. Also Rafa is 35 years old now… Father time is clicking away & his body is feeling it. Rafa is still the king of Roland Garros & always will be! Novak still has to get through Tsitsipas. They both want this really bad so we shall see… May the best man win!( Hopefully it’s Tsitsipas)! Cheer up! We have so much to be thankful for… Rafa has broken all kinds of historical records!
I’m going to cry. I really believed he would win, until that tie-break.
I’m so glad the crowd were allowed to stay, it would have been unbearable to watch Rafa walk out of an empty stadium after what night be his last match there for all we know. I hope he’s OK, he didn’t look very good physically in the last set.
Thanks for fighting to the end Rafa, win or lose you always give the sport and its fans a great match 🧡
😥😘
It feels all wrong for this to be at half 10 – half 11 in Paris – on a Friday night. It was a great match, but I’m very sad. Hoping to see Stef win on Sunday.
Sad end to Rafa’s Kingdom.
Apart from the first 5 games in the first set, Rafa didn’t stay solid consistently.
Well done to Djokovic. All Kingdoms must fall. Rafa did not protect his today, and that is that.
Reality check!! Our champ has won this title 13 times already… today’s result was always a matter of time. And it was always going to be this opponent:)
What happened today to Rafa, will happen soon to Djokovic at the Australian Open.
Thanks for the memories of RG2021 Rafa, but this one was not to be.
Good luck to Tsitsipas:):)
Somehow I don’t think I’d feel as bad if it’d been Stef or Dominic, or even Sascha or Daniil …
I bet we all can agree on that. Here’s to Stefanos to win.
Oops… didn’t see your last two.
I would say Domi, Stef, or Diego…
Too much pushing from nadal instead of getting into shape by dominating. Like in the Schwartzman match. Nadal might have had a sore ankle but if he cannot attack he is finished. So sad now I will have to root for Thisipas.
Djokovic is just too solid and he’s kept calm throughout the whole match. I’ve turned it off now ‘cos i’m thoroyghly deflated
It’s getting real now.
One game at a time Rafa!
Well it’s not looking good… Just remember Rafa can’t lose… He’s won so many times that he will still be the king of RG.!
Thank you Ziggy!🙏 You are right.👍
Djokovic is full of self belief now. Rafa needs to snuff it out.
Oh Rafa… Is it too much to ask for you to consolidate a break of serve?
he is serving so unbelievably bad 7 double fauls
There, champ!
Breaking to start the 4th set is just what the Dr. ordered.
Now protect your serve and do what you do best on this court champ!!
Nadal just lost the match I dont see him coming back. Djokovic has now the mental advantage. I can not believe rafa lost the tiebreak due to unbelievable error
Glass half empty much??
Let’s believe in our champ. He’s fighting out there for us you know?
It’s not over until it’s over. Let’s believe in him until the bitter or sweet end.
It’s ain’t over ’til it’s over, Marijnt. Rafa will fight until the bitter end.
Same khawartaimore, I can’t watch it too. Having difficulty breathing
Rafa, just regroup and think straight sets in best of 3 now. You can’t afford any slip ups.
Ugh what a mess of a set.
Best to commit it to memory and start the 4th set with a winning frame of mind.
Rafa was not at his best and yet he took to the tiebreak, a set he should probably have lost 6-3. What a fighter our champ is!
Now he needs to unleash his entire arsenal on Djokovic. Come on champ you can do it!!
I was going to say that I’m glad they’ve got a dispensation from the curfew, but maybe the break would have helped.
They’re letting the fans stay until the end!!
Aw come on Rafa, what’s with that free point??? Come on Champ!!
I Can’t believe we got to this tiebreak but here we are.
Stay solid Rafa!!
I can’t believe how I managed to stay alive watching this match!!! 😅😅 Barely breathing!