Novak Djokovic beats Rafa Nadal in historic French Open win as fans are allowed to break coronavirus curfew
KING OF CLAY Rafa Nadal was spectacularly dethroned by Novak Djokovic in a curfew-bending French Open classic.
In a match that will go down in the annals of history, one of the defining moments of their extraordinary and engrossing rivalry, Serbian Djokovic inflicted the THIRD defeat on Nadal at Roland Garros in 16 years.
It was after more than four hours of spellbinding tennis that the world No1 prevailed 3-6 6-3 7-6 6-2 in their 58th meeting.
It was a match that had everything, all the audacious shots you could imagine, and a one major law-breaking moment.
The 5,000 fans on the Court Philippe-Chatrier were supposed to leave for home at 11pm local time due to the citywide Covid-19 curfew.
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
Yet due to the extraordinary quality of the tennis – yes, it was that remarkable – the authorities ripped up the rulebook and allowed them all to stay.
It was an extraordinary decision, perhaps one influenced by a sudden phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Cornwall.
Former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli claimed on ITV4 that French Prime Minister Jean Castex was watching on TV and asked for the Paris curfew of 11pm to be relaxed because of the ‘incredible atmosphere’.
Djokovic, 34, said: “It was a privilege for me to be on court with Rafa for this unbelievable match.
“It’s the best I’ve played in Paris for sure. An unbelievable atmosphere.
“To win against Rafa on his court needed my best tennis. No pressure – at least that’s what you tell yourself.
“Definitely the best match that I was part of ever in Roland Garros. Top three matches that I ever played in my entire career.
“Considering the quality of tennis, playing my biggest rival on the court where he has had so much success. And the atmosphere which was completely electric.
“Each time you step on the court with him, you know that you have to kind of climb Mount Everest to win against this guy here.”
Nadal, 35, added: “No doubt he deserved to win.
“That’s sport. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I tried to give my best.
“Probably wasn’t my best day out there. Even if I fought, the position on the shots weren’t that effective.
“It’s true that there were crazy points out there. If you want to win, you can’t make these mistakes.
“So that’s it. Well done for him. It was a good fight out there. I tried my best. Today was not my day.”
This was one of those real value-for-money tickets, a match that will be remembered for decades.
In an arena where he had won a record 13 singles titles, Nadal took the early initiative when he clinched the first set on the seventh set-point. At one stage it appeared he might take it 6-0 last the 2020 final.
The second set was equally brutal and intensive, Djokovic showing why he is such a worthy champion as he levelled up.
WIN £50,000 with Dream Team Euros
Dream Team Euros is HERE!
The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
Dream Team Euros
- £50,000 jackpot
- The best fantasy football game this summer
- Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
- FREE to play
The 97-minute third set went to a tie-breaker and given the tension, drama and array of shot-making on display, it was not necessarily hyperbole by many observers to describe it as one of the greatest sets they had witnessed.
With Nadal hobbling and hindered by an ankle problem, Djokovic sensed this was his moment and he managed to close out the fourth set to book a sixth final on Paris red clay.
Perhaps the biggest winner of all this was a tearful Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had earlier overcame several ’emotional breakdowns’ to reach a maiden major final.
The Athens ace, known on the ATP Tour for his quirky personality and travel video blogs, broke new ground for his country by crushing the spirit of Alex Zverev in the semi-finals.
This was a coming-of-age display for the 22-year-old Next Gen star, who beat Zverev 6-3 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3 in a three-hour 37-minute topsy-turvy encounter.
I went through a lot of phases of emotional breakdowns but this win means a lot. This is the most important one of my career so far
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Having squandered a two-set lead, Tsitsipas then faced three break points in the opening game of the fifth set.
Yet the No5 seed showed courage and bottle, giving fans back home in Greece plenty of excuse to smash lots of plates in celebration.
With tears in his eyes, Tsitsipas said: “My dream was to play here, my dream to play on the big stage of the French Open one day. I’d have never thought I would make it.
“I went through a lot of phases of emotional breakdowns but this win means a lot. This is the most important one of my career so far.
Most read in Sport
“There were a lot of people who were raising flags and cheering me on in Greek.
“It is important for me to do my job well enough to have recognition back in my country.
“I’m very happy Greece is part of the tennis community.”