"Maybe my last match at Roland Garros in my tennis career" says Nadal ahead of Djokovic clash
ATP
Rafael Nadal is on his quest to add his 22nd Grand Slam title at the 2022 Roland Garros, the tournament where he triumphed 13 times before.
The experienced Spaniard is attempting to win his 14th title at Roland Garros to further extend his unprecedented record. In the fourth round, Nadal prevailed in five sets against Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is coached by his uncle Toni Nadal.
After four hours and 23 minutes of play, he won the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Up next, the Spanish player will take on his great rival Novak Djokovic, after the Serbian bested Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal was happy about his win, and he was also aware of the challenge standing in front of him. Having to play against Djokovic already in the quarter-finals won't be easy, but the same applies the other way around.
"I didn't play these kind of matches for the past three months, so [it is] going to be a big challenge for me. Of course he already won I think [his] past nine matches in a row, winning in Rome and now winning here in straight sets every match. Probably he will be confident. I know how my situation is and I accept it well. I’m going to fight for it."
Despite still being undefeated at Grand Slams in 2022, Nadal said something that surprised many. The Spanish player suggested that his match against Djokovic might be his last at Roland Garros, not in 2022, but in his career.
"I am in [the] quarter-finals of Roland Garros. Two weeks and a half ago, even if I had good hopes, positive hopes after Rome, I [didn’t even] know if I would be able to be here. So just enjoying the fact that I am here for one more year."
"And being honest, every match that I play here, I don't know if [it is] going to be my last match here in Roland Garros in my tennis career. That's my situation now."
"That's why I am just trying to enjoy as much as possible and fight as much as I can to keep living the dream that is [to] keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros, playing against the World No. 1. Let's see. I hope to be able to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible."
