French Open: Goran Ivanisevic - Early meeting with Rafael Nadal as an advantage?
In an interview with Sport Klub, Goran Ivanisevic commented on the situation at the French Open. Specifically: the early clash between his protégé Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
May 29, 2022, 10:04 pm
So it's been official since Sunday evening: On Tuesday evening there will be something like an early final at the French Open, when the 13-time winner Rafael Nadal and the current number one in the tennis world, Novak Djokovic, meet in the quarter-finals. While the Serb almost walked into the last eight with a clear win over Diego Schwartzman , Nadal had to stretch for his win against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
For whom is this early meeting an advantage? Novak Djokovic's trainer Goran Ivanisevic tried to classify Sport Klub: "I think it's more difficult to play against Nadal in the final here than before because Rafa has never lost a final here," said the coach. "Just like it's almost impossible to beat Djokovic in the final in Australia."
Ivanisevic doesn't see Alcaraz as the top favourite
The 50-year-old Croatian sees the Spaniard as the title favorite at the Bois de Boulogne, but also knows that the 21-time Major winner is not invulnerable (anymore) in Paris: "I think Rafa is the favourite. It's normal because he's the man who won 13 times, but he was the favorite last year too and didn't win," Ivanisevic said. And thus also the favorite for the meeting in the quarterfinals of the French Open. But favorites don't always win, the Croatian points out.
The duel between the two exceptional talents on Tuesday was the "biggest quarter-final in the history of Roland Garros," as Ivanisevic emphasized. Incidentally, Carlos Alcaraz will not be among the absolute title aspirants at the second Grand Slam of the year: "A lot of people call him a favorite and I don't agree. This is a Grand Slam. That's a different story. Novak and Rafa are still ahead. But he's phenomenal, he's the future No. 1 and winner of Grand Slams."
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