21-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal beat Felix Auger-Aliassime for the second time in as many career meetings, progressing to the quarterfinals of the Roland Garros on Sunday, with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory in four hours and 20 minutes. It marked Rafa’s third career five-set match at Roland Garros, a tournament he has won 13 times.
Rafa will next play against defending champion Novak Djokovic. They will meet for the 59th time in a rematch of their 2021 Roland Garros semifinal, won by the Serbian en route to the title. Also, they will break their Open Era ties with the Chris Evert–Martina Navratilova rivalry for the most consecutive years playing each other (17) and most meetings in one Grand Slam (10).
Our champ is in search of a historic 14th Roland Garros title, which would give him 22 Grand Slam trophies and allow him to pull away from 20-time Slam champion Novak.
After the match, Rafa said:
“It’s an atmosphere that’s incredible, so many emotions out for me. The most important court for me in my entire career. [On Auger-Aliassime]. He’s a great player, one the best in the world, with great power and mobility, I wish him all the best for the rest of the season. He’s a great guy, and a great colleague on tour. I didn’t start the match well so it was a first tough set. He has a huge serve and I was not able to push him back. At the end I could go to the end and that makes a difference. [On Novak Djojkovic] Here we are, we are in Roland Garros, and I am going to try my best, that I can guarantee.“
Keep it going as I know that you can do it rafa
Was worried, but you did it!!!!
Congrats 🥳
Great!!!! Keep it up Rafa! You know you can!
Djokovic or anyone else YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
VAMOS
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Whew!
What a match for Rafa! He definitely needed such a test before playing Novak.
FAA was amazing and I hope he goes on to have a great season. He did give Rafa a run for his money today.
Rest up and get ready for the next challenge champ!
Ps
The village idiot has been proven wrong yet again.
Rafa was sensational in the fifth set. I think he’s ready for Joker. Rafa is in great physical condition. Maybe work on serves tomorrow.
Vamos Rafa!
FABULOUS ! Rafa forever! Thank you Rafa !
You will defeat Novak . He is coming into this match cold – you have lit your fire today, that is all you needed for No14 !!!
Good luck and I‘ll be there .
That really stressed me out!! But sometimes it takes a match like that to push someone into producing their best form.
Come on Rafa. You can do it on Tuesday. I know you will win.. just play your best. You know him very well. He won two and you won 13 times here. Come on show him who is the greatest here
What a match!!!! If Rafa plays his best and aggressive (see set two and three) nobody beats him in Paris – but only than!
Take rest and than go for it. You can do it❤️❤️❤️