French Open day 10: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic start epic contest in May with match ending in June
Rafael Nadal won the epic 59th installment of his rivalry with Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-final of the 2022 French Open.
The Spaniard is through to a 15th Roland Garros semi-final and on course for a 14th title.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz’s run was ended in four sets by Alexander Zverev, and Coco Gauff reached the semi-final of a Grand Slam for the first time by beating fellow American Sloane Stephens.
Here is a look back at day 10 at the US Open.
Picture of the day
Match of the day
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2022
A four-hour, four-set marathon ended at 1.15am local time after Nadal clinched a fourth-set tie-break to seal a memorable 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Djokovic. In fact, they started their contest in May and it came to a conclusion in June.
Shot of the day
Like a thief in the night @RafaelNadal | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/RfVnERtEjs
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2022
Quote of the day
Tweet of the day
I went for a run and they played one game xd
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) May 31, 2022
To be honest you could have knocked out a dissertation during some of the games in the Nadal/Djokovic match.
Shock of the day
New achievement unlocked #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/7xCVmGvAof
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2022
Martina Trevisan has crept under the radar until she beat 17th seed Laylah Fernandez in three sets to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final at the age of 28. She will face Gauff for a place in the final.
Brit watch
Losing out by the finest of margins
Joe Salisbury & Rajeev Ram are knocked out in a match tie break in the #RolandGarros QFs#BackTheBrits pic.twitter.com/b5fcdY6e64
— LTA (@the_LTA) May 31, 2022
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There was disappointment in the men’s doubles as top seeds Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram lost a match tie-break in their quarter-final against Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek. Neal Skupski and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof were also beaten in three by Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
Fallen seeds
Women: Laylah Fernandez (17).
Men: Novak Djokovic (1), Carlos Alcaraz (6).
Up next
Next one tomorrow. I’m gonna enjoy it and I hope you will too. #quarterfinal
Kolejny mecz jutro. Mam zamiar cieszyć się tenisem i mam nadzieję, że Wy też będziecie!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/O61LXmxshu
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) May 31, 2022
Iga Swiatek, the world number one and 2020 champion, faces American 11th seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals. The night match sees Danish teenager Holger Rune face Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud.
