The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic recognized that Rafael Nadal “showed why he is a great champion”, since he “stayed strong mentally” to finish the match at a high level to achieve a victory “which he undoubtedly deserved”.
The Spanish tennis player defeated the world number one in four sets -6-2, 4-6(6-2 and 7-6 (4)- to advance to the semifinals of the Roland Garros tournament, in an exciting encounter with many alternatives.
“I had my chances in the fourth (set). I served to win it, I had a couple of set points,” he lamented at the press conference after the match, which entered the early Wednesday morning.
“Nole” stressed that with “one or two shots he could have reached the fifth set. There could have been ga I swim anyone”, but Nadal “showed why he is a great champion. He stayed strong mentally and finished the way he did, “he acknowledged.
The Spaniard came back from 2-5 down in the fourth set to prevail and win the duel. Nadal “played better in the important moments”, summed up the Serb.
“I gave my best. I know he could have played better. I am proud to have fought to the last blow”, he added, before admitting that he lost “to a better player. I had my chances and I didn’t take them. That’s all”.
Djokovic assured that he was not surprised to see the physical level of Nadal, who in the round of 16 had to play five sets and came to this tournament little shot due to different physical problems.
Nadal “is capable of, a few days after being injured and barely to be able to walk, to return to one hundred percent on a physical level. He has already done it many times in his career, so I am not surprised”.
The Serb also had criticism towards the night matches of this edition of the tournament, which has also come from other tennis players, like Nadal. Today’s match ended after one in the morning.
“I think (night matches) start too late. But television decides”, he stressed.
Also read:
– Rafael Nadal shook Novak Djokovic from his throne in Paris and went on to the Roland Garros semi-final
– Rafael Nadal on his debut at Roland Garros: I need to improve and I can improve