Quick quarterfinal for French Open
PARIS – Rafael Nadal’s French Open quarterfinal began more than 1 1/2 hours after Novak Djokovic’s did Tuesday. Which is why, after wrapping up a three-set victory, Djokovic figured his coach could head over and check out some of Nadal’s match.
So much for a fresh scouting report ahead of Friday’s semifinals.
Turns out Nadal was only moments away from winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 against Nicolas Almagro, the most lopsided men’s quarterfinal at Roland Garros in the 40-year history of the Open era. Almagro’s no slouch, by the way: He was seeded 19th and has won more matches on clay than anyone else this season.
“I told my coach – I think it was 6-1, 6-1, 5-1 – I told him, ‘Look! Go! Go fast! See one game! Try to catch at least a game and see how it goes,’ ” Djokovic said. ” ‘Maybe he’ll play some bad shots.’ “
Not a chance. Hard as it is to believe, Nadal is playing more relentlessly, treating each point – no, each and every stroke – as though the outcome hangs in the balance.
He’s 26-0 at the French Open for his career, two victories away from becoming the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1978-81 to win the clay-court major championship four consecutive times.
Nadal has dropped a total of 25 games, the fewest lost through five full matches by a Grand Slam semifinalist in the Open era.
Djokovic beat 80th-ranked Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 7-6 (3), 7-5 to become the fourth man since 1968 to reach five consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. He also earned the right to face Nadal, who is 113-2 on clay since April 2005.
A berth in Sunday’s final – and Nadal’s No. 2 ranking – will be on the line.
“He’s been playing better and better,” No. 3-ranked Djokovic said. “But I don’t want to go out there in the semis and just try my best. I don’t want to do that. I want to win.”
He’s won only three of 10 matches with Nadal in their brief but rapidly ascendant careers, including exits from the French Open each of the past two years. Both are supremely talented, quite young – Nadal turned 22 on Tuesday; Djokovic turned 21 last month – and bent on stealing some of the prizes that otherwise would be headed for Roger Federer’s trophy case.
“Anything can happen,” Nadal said. “I know that if I’m not playing at 100 percent, it’s going to be very difficult for me to win this match.”
The top-ranked Federer plays his quarterfinal today against No. 24 Fernando Gonzalez, while No. 5 David Ferrer meets the unseeded Gael Monfils.
Nadal beat Federer at the French Open each of the past three years on his way to the title. Djokovic upset Federer at the Australian Open in January en route to his first major championship.
While Federer’s No. 1 ranking is safe no matter what happens this week, Maria Sharapova will relinquish her status as the No. 1 woman. Sharapova, who took over the top spot when Justine Henin retired, lost in the fourth round in Paris. She will be replaced by one of the players still in the draw: No. 2 Ana Ivanovic, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic or No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Ivanovic and Jankovic, two Serbs both seeking a first Grand Slam title, will meet in the semifinals Thursday after straightforward victories. Ivanovic beat No. 10 Patty Schnyder 6-3, 6-2, and Jankovic eliminated qualifier Carla Suarez Navarro by the same score.
French Open
A look at the French Open on Tuesday:
Men’s quarterfinals: No. 2. Rafael Nadal def. No. 19 Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 Novak Djokovic def. Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Women’s quarterfinals: No. 2 Ana Ivanovic def. No. 10 Patty Schnyder 6-3, 6-2; No. 3 Jelena Jankovic def. Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2.
Today’s remaining quarterfinals: No. 1 Roger Federer vs. No. 24 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 5 David Ferrer vs. Gael Monfils; No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Kaia Kanepi, No. 7 Elena Dementieva vs. No. 13 Dinara Safina.