At Roland Garros
Roland-Garros will have the right, on Tuesday, to an explosive clash in the quarter-finals between Rafael Nadal and the Serbian Novak Djokovic. But the final before the hour that everyone expects could very well have lost its Spanish headliner. Rafael Nadal, pushed to his limits, needed five fierce sets and more than four hours of play to overcome a tough Felix Auger-Aliassime (3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6 , 6-3). The talented Canadian, who until this year had never won a single match in the main draw, was on the verge of signing a resounding success against the Spaniard whose defeat counter will therefore remain blocked at three Portes d’Auteuil. since 2005 (in 112 matches). Just two fingers.
The Spaniard, however, did not seem to suffer from this foot injury which has been poisoning his life for months (he suffers from Muller-Weiss syndrome, an incurable chronic pain). He did not seem handicapped in his movements either. But he was very often put in difficulty when his opponent forced him to project himself forward. And has only very rarely found the solution in the recovery on the very effective service of the former finalist of the Juniors tournament. His backhand has regularly escaped him, spinning too often in the corridors. Unusual faults seen in the first set fell into the hands of the placid and very complete Canadian (6-3), much less serene when the Spaniard was more sharp on his attacks.
The Porte d’Auteuil legend quickly rekindled the flame in a worried stadium, then reassured in the second and third acts won without trembling by “Rafa” (6-3, 6-2). It was thought then that the Nadal machine was launched against the youth of the Toronto player, jostled by the backhands with two hands crossed again devastating from the world No. 5. That the match would be folded in four sets. And then boom! The Spanish game suddenly went wrong. Face tense, Nadal again stammered his tennis to let Alliassime equalize (6-3).
Total suspense. The last set turned arm wrestling in front of an audience bundled up in blankets and jackets, shouting “Rafa!” Rafa! to warm up and push the idol. Nadal was scrapping, his face closed from the bad days, against a Canadian who never lost his calm, even at 3-4 against him, on his service, when the Iberian went for the break by going up on the fly. One of the most spectacular points of the meeting as a bonus. A furious “Vamos” and a clenched fist towards the stands and Nadal capsized the 20,000 spectators. Before opening a few moments later, the doors of a royal quarter-final against his best enemy. Reserve your Tuesday evening.
