2021 Internationaux de France is the fifth event of the 2021-22 Grand Prix series and is scheduled to take place Nov. 19-21, 2021, in Grenoble, France. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series consists of six international senior invitational events and culminates with the 2021-22 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December 2021.
PARIS!
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At the end of a stratospheric match and a crazy evening, Novak Djokovic overwhelmed Rafael Nadal in four sets and won his ticket to the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. It’s a thunderclap!
It is a match that will make a milestone, a moment of legend, also somewhere a turning point in the history of the tournament. At the end of a stunning match, Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in four sets and 4:10 of play (3/6, 6/3, 7/6 (4), 6/2) and thus qualified for the final at the expense of the owner who had never lost a semi-final at Roland Garros. The No. 1 will play his sixth Porte d’Auteuil final on Sunday against “neophyte” Stefanos Tsitsipas, who needed five sets – but “only” 3:37 – to beat Alexander Zverev in the first semi-final.
This new titanic duel between the two monsters of world tennis was probably played out during a third set 91 ‘long, with a sometimes surreal level of play, which the Serbian won in the decisive game by physically cracking and – this explaining this nervously his opponent.
Nadal had his chance, though. Broken twice in this third set, he came back both times, with the legendary bravery we know him, before getting a crucial set point at 6-5. The Serb saved her, at the end of a dizzying exchange – one among many – concluded with a sublime cushioned setback.
At this point in the game, the two men were playing on a cosmic level, largely worthy of their most memorable duels (2011 US Open final, 2012 Australian Open final, Roland Garros semi-final 2013, or Wimbledon 2018 semi-final). Each exchange seemed more hair-raising, more exhausting than the last. A masterpiece, which the public present was going to be able to follow until its end despite the 11:00 p.m. curfew, the FFT having obtained an exceptional exemption.
A freewheeling departure, and then…
That this part turns into a masterpiece, it was not won, however, given the start of the match. Quickly, Nadal was detached 5-0 in the first set and if this score was severe given the physiognomy of the games, it was nonetheless reminiscent of 2020 final that the Spaniard had started with a bicycle wheel.
Except for this time, Djokovic reacted quickly. And firmly. He almost made a spectacular comeback by erasing six first set points before finally giving in on the seventh (3/6). But from the start of the second set, he took over, if we dare say it, the bull by the horns. And set up like a boss on the pitch, for a little over a set and a half.
Nadal owed only to his prodigious moral strength the fact of prolonging the fight until the end of the third set, but obviously, he was exhausted over the minutes in the face of the stainless resistance of the rock that faced him. You could say that this third set turned on a dice, this “easy” forehand volley missed by the Spaniard 3-4 against him in the tie break. But was it a coincidence?
The truth, it is perhaps that Nadal was without solution, quite simply, in front of the resistance of Djoker, which showed itself of a diabolical precision and which, moreover, served admirably well. The three amortizations attempted by Nadal on the last four points of the decisive game undoubtedly spoke more than any speech: there was perhaps, in this choice, a form of helplessness.
We understood it in the fourth set when Rafa, groggy, stunned, pushed into the ropes, seemed to sink physically over the games. In a final burst, he nevertheless broke from the start to lead 2-0. But it was his swan song. Behind, he conceded the next six. Before bowing to a final setback in the hallway.
Defeat Rafa at Roland, the ultimate feat
After 13 titles and 105 victorious matches at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal has just suffered the third defeat of his career there. There was that against Robin Söderling in 2009 (in eighth) and that against Novak Djokovic, already, in 2015 (in quarters). It is quite possible that, in the future, this one will be remembered even more, in 2021.
Not because she looks like the end of her reign, it’s far too early to say that. But because the match, in itself, will remain memorable. Novak Djokovic then confirmed it at the microphone of Cédric Pioline: “It is surely the greatest match that I have ever played here, in Paris.”
It is a milestone feat, for sure, but even more if the world No. 1 confirms it by winning the title on Sunday against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nothing is even less certain, of course. For now, the Serbian probably has only one idea in mind: to recover. Physically and nervously. Because of what he has just done there, namely to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, it is neither more nor less the most difficult thing to achieve at the moment on a tennis court.
FRIDAY’S RECAP
So as not to miss any of what happened this Friday at Roland Garros.
This Friday, several semi-finals were on the program at Roland Garros. Those of the men’s singles, but also the ladies’ double and a 100% French final four for the juniors.
Magistral, Djokovic dominates Nadal
The 58th “Djokodal” has delivered all its promises. At the end of the day, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal delivered an exceptional fight of 4:11 of play. The Serbian, the author of a masterful performance, won in four sets 3/6, 6/3, 7/6 (4 ), 6/2 in a magnificent atmosphere. The world number 1 managed the feat of beating the Spaniard for a second time at Roland Garros. He will aim for a second coronation in Paris this Sunday.
Magistral, Djokovic dominates Nadal
The 58th “Djokodal” has delivered all its promises. At the end of the day, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal delivered an exceptional fight of 4:11 of play. The Serbian, the author of a masterful performance, won in four sets 3/6, 6/3, 7/6 (4 ), 6/2 in a magnificent atmosphere. The world number 1 managed the feat of beating the Spaniard for a second time at Roland Garros. He will aim for a second coronation in Paris this Sunday.
Great first for Tsitsipas
In the first semi-final of the day, Stefanos Tsitsipas dominated Alexander Zverev after a fierce fight in five sets, won 6/3, 6/3, 4/6, 4/6, 6/3 in 3:37 hours of play. Greek held on in the fifth set after seeing the German come back up to par. He qualifies for his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. And will challenge the world number 1 in the final
Krejcikova to the double?
Qualified for the women’s singles final this Saturday, Barbora Krejcikova will also be in the doubles final on Sunday with her partner Katerina Siniakova. The two players only needed 1h11 and two sets (6/1, 6/2) to eliminate the Linette / Pera pair.
In the other semi-final, Iga Swiatek and Bethanie Mattek-Sands dominated Irina-Camelia Begu and Nadia Podoroska in the semi-final (6/3, 6/4)
Juniors: Fils and Van Assche in the final
In a final 100% French square among the juniors, Arthur Fils and Luca Van Assche qualified for their first Grand Slam final.
Arthur Fils showed good mental qualities to reverse a badly embarked match against his friend Giovanni Mpetchi Perricard and win in three sets 3/6, 6/3, 7/6 (5). Arthur Fils and Giovanni Mpetchi-Perricard found themselves in the same team to contest the semi-final of the junior doubles. They won against the Bielinski / Nesterov pair. Arthur Fils will therefore have the opportunity to double.
In the other semi-final, Luca Van Assche won against Sean Cuenin in two sets 7/5, 6/4, as in the final of the French 13/14 championships, in 2018.
