Court Philippe-Chatrier was afraid for his king. Rafael Nadal won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 4:21 against Félix Auger-Aliassime, Sunday May 29, in the round of 16 at Roland-Garros. But the Spaniard was put in big trouble. Taken in a fifth set only for the third time in his career at Porte d’Auteuil, the Majorcan did not reassure before facing Novak Djokovic, for a very high level quarter-final on Tuesday. The 46th of his career in Grand Slam.
Qualifications in the 1/4 finals of Grand Slam (Open era):
Roger Federer – 58
Novak Djokovic – 52 ⬆️
Rafael Nadal – 46 ⬆️
Jimmy Connors – 41
Andre Agassi – 36
Ivan Lendl – 34
Andy Murray – 30
Pete Sampras – 29
Stefan Edberg – 26
John McEnroe – 26— Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) May 29, 2022
Offensive and courageous, Felix Auger-Aliassime, whose assistant coach is none other than Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of “Rafa”, stung the bull of Manacor from the start of the meeting. A domination reinforced by the errors of an unrecognizable Nadal. With a broken service (50% of first serves), 15 unforced errors for only six winning shots, the Spaniard was slow to return to his match, despite an audience that was only asking to ignite.
The first set dropped 6-3 could have been followed by a tense second set if “Rafa” had not saved two break points in the third game. But the legend woke up and everything was more difficult for Auger – Aliassime. Thanks to a service found and only four small unforced errors in the second set, “Rafa” hardened the game and disgusted his opponent. With a break at the best of times (5-3), Nadal picked up a set everywhere and demonstrated why he won 13 times here. Even on a bad day…
Back in the game, the Spaniard continued his momentum in the third set and quickly took the serve of his opponent to take the reins of the game (3-1). A tone above, the Mallorcan got break points on the four opposing service games to establish his grip. The doubts at the start of the meeting seemed far away.
But his demons woke up in round four. After being broken on his first two service games, the Mallorcan ran after his opponent. Same cause, same consequence: he multiplied the unforced errors (13). At the end: a fifth set to play for the third time in his career at Roland-Garros after his success at the end of the effort against John Isner in 2011 and Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in 2013.
And resist the pressure, the former number one knows how to do it. After a decisive start to the set where the two players held their serve, it was Nadal who tipped the match by seizing his rival’s commitment on the eighth game. He only had to serve for the game. With no break point conceded and 15 winning shots, a third of his total for the match, the master of ocher managed this fifth set perfectly to avoid an early exit from the road.
At the end of this fight, “Rafa” inevitably left feathers before his quarter-final against world number 1 and defending champion, Novak Djokovic. On Sunday, the Spaniard spent two hours more than the Serb on the court. Details that matter at this level of competition.