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Nadal to Meet Djokovic in a Final-Like Semifinal Final-Like Semifinal: Djokovic vs. Nadal
(about 4 hours later)
PARIS — It has been nearly two weeks since a murmur went through the room in Paris after Rafael Nadal landed on the same side of the French Open draw as Novak Djokovic. PARIS — It has been nearly two weeks since a murmur and a few groans went through the room in Paris after Rafael Nadal landed on the same side of the French Open draw as Novak Djokovic.
But the wait will end Friday when Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 player, and Nadal, the best clay-court player in history, will face each other in the semifinals. The men’s tournament has been a waiting game ever since, but the wait will end Friday when Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 player, and Nadal, the most successful clay-court player in history, will face each other in the semifinals.
It will feel like a final before the final, but neither Nadal nor Djokovic was prepared to moan about that after their straight-set victories at Roland Garros on Wednesday. It will feel like a final before the final, but neither the top-seeded Djokovic nor the third-seeded Nadal was prepared to bemoan that incongruity after their straight-set victories at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Nadal’s was the more overwhelming, as he routed the resurgent Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, on the main Philippe Chatrier court in the brilliant sunshine. But Djokovic was nearly as efficient across the concourse in the smaller Suzanne Lenglen Court, warding off the multipronged threat posed by 35-year-old Tommy Haas and winning, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 7-5. Nadal was the more impressive, routing the resurgent Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, on the main Philippe Chatrier Court in the brilliant sunshine. Djokovic was nearly as efficient across the concourse in the smaller Suzanne Lenglen Court, warding off the multipronged threat posed by the 35-year-old German Tommy Haas and winning, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 7-5.
“It is what it is,” Djokovic said of facing Nadal in the semifinals instead of in a final. “I don’t want to talk about what if, what if. We are playing the semifinal and we are both in good shape, and it’s going to be a good match.” Friday’s other semifinal will match David Ferrer of Spain and the Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, neither of whom has won a Grand Slam title.
Their match was the final here last year: a two-day, mood-shifting ordeal that was interrupted by rain when Djokovic was taking command on Sunday evening. “It is what it is,” Djokovic said of facing Nadal one round earlier than usual. “I don’t want to talk about what if, what if. We are playing the semifinal and we are both in good shape, and it’s going to be a good match.”
Nadal won in four sets to secure a record-setting seventh singles title at Roland Garros. He has still lost only once on the red clay in Paris at the Grand Slam tournament that he first played in 2005. Their match was the final here last year, a two-day, mood-shifting ordeal that was interrupted by rain when Djokovic was taking command Sunday evening. Nadal won in four sets to secure a record-setting seventh singles title at Roland Garros.
But Nadal has lost on his favorite surface to Djokovic elsewhere. Although Nadal has won 12 of their 15 matches on clay, they have split the last six, with Djokovic winning the most recent in April in the Monte Carlo final in straight sets. But Nadal has definitely lost on his favorite surface to Djokovic. Though Nadal has won 12 of their 15 matches on clay, they have split the last six. Djokovic can generate power and leverage with his two-handed backhand even on high, fast-spinning balls, neutralizing one of Nadal’s trump cards. He also has the speed, reach and defensive prowess to force Nadal to go for more than usual, generating errors.
“That is something that can maybe give me that mental edge when I step onto the court, knowing I already won against him on clay this season,” Djokovic said. “Knowing I can do it, even though not many players in the last 10 years have won against him on this surface, and he’s been the most dominant player in the history of this sport on this surface. It’s incredible what he does on this surface. He won their most recent match, defeating Nadal in straight sets in April in the Monte Carlo final.
“But it’s the best of five, so it takes much more than just doing the same thing like in Monte Carlo, you know. It’s a Grand Slam also so there is more, I guess more tension, more things that are important for both of us.” “That is something that can maybe give me that mental edge when I step onto the court, knowing I already won against him on clay this season,” Djokovic said. Djokovic would seem to have the most at stake statistically. While Nadal already has won this title seven times and won all four of the Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic is still missing the Roland Garros trophy.
Djokovic has the most at stake statistically. While Nadal has taken this title seven times and won all four of the Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic is still missing the Roland Garros trophy, and while some past stars might have avoided stating their desire so plainly, Djokovic has dodged nothing. In Australia in January, Djokovic made it clear that winning the French Open was his major goal this season, and he has embraced the symbolism of trying to win it for his childhood coach Jelena Gencic, who died in Serbia on Saturday at age 76.
In Australia in January, he made it clear that winning in Paris was his major goal this season, and he has also embraced the opportunity to win it for his childhood coach Jelena Gencic, who died in Serbia on Saturday at age 76. At the memorial service for Gencic in Belgrade this week, Djokovic’s mother, Dijana, read aloud a letter from her son addressed to Gencic.
At the memorial service for Gencic in Belgrade this week, Djokovic’s mother Dijana read aloud a letter from her son addressed to Gencic. “I am sad beyond limits that I cannot come to the funeral,” the letter read.  “I know you would be angry if I give up and diminish my chances to fulfill our last wish to win Roland Garros.”
“I am sad beyond limits that I cannot come to the funeral,” the letter read. “I know you would be angry if I give up and diminish my chances to fulfill our last wish to win Roland Garros.” Djokovic’s ability to articulate his emotions is nearly as striking as his elastic ability to turn defense into offense. It is rare that he does not give a considered answer unless he is going for laughs.
As striking as Djokovic’s ability is to turn defense into offense, his ability to articulate his own emotions and predicaments is also a part of his championship persona. Through the years, he and Nadal have answered many questions about each other.  Though Nadal’s rivalry with Roger Federer has received more attention, Djokovic and Nadal have faced off more often than any men in this era. This will be their 35th meeting, with Nadal holding a 19-15 edge. Nadal and Federer have played 30 times, with Nadal holding a 20-10 advantage.
It is rare that he does not give a considered answer unless he is going for laughs. Djokovic was asked if there was a chance that this semifinal could be faster than last year’s Australian Open final, which required 5 hours 53 minutes for Djokovic to beat Nadal.
“I look forward to it,” he said of the Nadal match. “It’s not the first time I’m playing him. We played over 30 times. I’m sure that we know each other’s game really well. We are in good form. This is it, you know. This is the biggest matchup of our Roland Garros 2013 campaign for both me and him. I guess it’s the small details and few points that can decide a winner, and that’s why I need to be very disciplined and focused in order to get emotionally, physically and mentally ready for that match.” “Do you want to see more than six hours’ match?” Djokovic asked with a chuckle. “I’m sure I don’t want to be six hours on the court.”
Asked if there was a chance that this semifinal could be faster than last year’s Australian Open final, which required five hours and 53 minutes for Djokovic to win, Djokovic went for laughs. There seemed little danger of marathon records Wednesday as Djokovic and Nadal dispatched the opposition in quarterfinals that ended within minutes of each other.   
“Do you want to see more than six hours’ match?” Djokovic said. “I’m sure I don’t want to be six hours on the court.” On the warmest day of the tournament, Nadal’s forehand was particularly lively and devastating, breaking down Wawrinka’s one-handed backhand with the same sort of ruthless regularity that it has broken down Federer’s one-hander.
There was little danger of that on Wednesday as Djokovic and Nadal disposed of the opposition in quarterfinals that ended within minutes of each other.
On the warmest day of the tournament so far, Nadal’s trademark forehand was particularly lively and devastating, breaking down Wawrinka’s telegenic one-handed backhand with the same ruthless regularity that it has broken down the one-handed backhand belonging to Wawrinka’s more famous Swiss elder, Roger Federer.
“It’s difficult to be as strong with the backhand at shoulder height, which is where you have to hit it against Nadal again and again,” Wawrinka said.“It’s difficult to be as strong with the backhand at shoulder height, which is where you have to hit it against Nadal again and again,” Wawrinka said.
Nadal has lost to a man with a one-handed backhand this season. That was Horacio Zeballos, the Argentine who beat Nadal in the final of the clay court tournament in Vina del Mar, Chile. Nadal did lose to a man with a one-handed backhand this season: Horacio Zeballos,  who beat Nadal in the final of the clay-court tournament in February in Vina del Mar, Chile.
But Zeballos is a left-hander, not a right-hander, which means that Nadal’s crosscourt forehand is played to Zeballos’s forehand. That defeat came in Nadal’s comeback tournament after he had missed seven months of play because of a recurring knee problem and an illness. After Vina del Mar, Nadal won six of his next seven tournaments, the only defeat coming to Djokovic in Monte Carlo.
That defeat in Chile also came in Nadal’s comeback tournament after he had missed seven months of play because of a recurring knee problem and an illness. Since Vina del Mar, Nadal has won six of his seven tournaments, the only defeat coming to Djokovic in Monte Carlo. Nadal was, however, shaky at Roland Garros during the cold, clammy conditions of the first week, dropping a set to the unseeded Daniel Brands and to Martin Klizan. But Nadal has looked much more familiar in the warm glow of the last two rounds, generating more depth with his backhand and conjuring equation after equation that his opponents — Kei Nishikori and Wawrinka — could not solve.
He was shaky at Roland Garros early in the cold, clammy conditions in the first week, dropping a set to the unseeded Daniel Brands and to Martin Klizan. But he has looked much more like the Nadal of yore in the warmth of the last two rounds, generating more depth with his backhand and conjuring equation after equation that his opponents – Kei Nishikori and Wawrinka – could not solve.
“I think today I played my best match of the year in this tournament,” Nadal said.“I think today I played my best match of the year in this tournament,” Nadal said.
A better one will presumably be required on Friday, even if it still sounds strange to say Friday instead of Sunday for a Djokovic-Nadal duel. A better one will presumably be required Friday, even if it still sounds strange to say Friday instead of Sunday about a Djokovic-Nadal duel.
“If you win, you didn’t win nothing yet,” Nadal said with a grin. “That’s a big difference.”