TENNIS:RAFAEL NADAL described it as the best player in the world against the best player in history, and that is without taking into account what is at stake. Today's French Open semi-final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is certainly the most eagerly-awaited match at Roland Garros this year, and for Djokovic it could be a life-changing one.
Victory over the 16-time grand slam champion would see the Serb overtake Nadal to become world number one for the first time, while he would also equal John McEnroe’s 1984 record of 42 straight wins to start a season.
Were Federer to win, the Swiss would reach the final for the fifth time in six years and show he is not ready to make way for the Nadal and Djokovic show just yet.
The 29-year-old insisted making the final and not stopping Djokovic is his primary motivation, saying: “It’s not the driving force behind this match. For me, the plan is trying to get a step further and into the finals of the French Open. That’s why I entered the French Open, it wasn’t to stop Novak. I know he has a lot on the line. I was there myself in 2004 when I was going for world number one against (David) Ferrer in Australia in the semis of a grand slam. So it’s a similar situation.”
Federer has not had the best of seasons by his standards, losing to Djokovic in straight sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and reaching only one final since Melbourne, which brought another defeat by the Serb in Dubai. However, he has looked back to something like his best on the Paris clay and is the only player to have reached the last four without dropping a set.
“I think there’s less at stake for me than for him,” said the Swiss. “I’d love to be in a grand slam final again because I haven’t achieved that in a few slams. But nothing major for me as long as I keep on giving myself chances.
“I think I’m playing really well again. Even during the clay-court season, I thought I wasn’t playing poorly. I had some tough losses but now I can really play the way I was hoping to play here at the French Open.”
Federer has been hugely impressed with Djokovic this season and thinks playing such a high-profile match could help him. The third seed added: “I’m sure it’s been tricky for him, but he’s been doing a great job. Now maybe the streak is less at stake in some ways because it’s more of a big match against me, so it’s easier to focus just on playing me instead of the whole situation. I think the number-one situation is the big one right now for him and not so much the streak. But it all goes hand in hand. It’s going to be an interesting day.”
Another factor is Djokovic has not played a match since Sunday after quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini withdrew injured.
Andy Murray, who plays Nadal in the other semi-final, believes that could be a problem for the second seed. He said: “I’m sure for Novak it will be a little bit strange; five days off in the middle of a grand slam is very rare. We were talking about it the last couple of days. What would you actually do if you had five days off during a grand slam? Would you play some sets? Would you take it easy? I know he’s played a lot of tennis but he’s got to be switched on from the start against Roger, because he’s playing Roger.”
Rafael Nadal on clay
Wins at French Open:43
Losses at French Open: 1
Consecutive wins at French Open: (2005-09)31
ATP Tour titles: 31
Matches won:225
Matches lost: 18
Consecutive wins: (2005-07) 81
Wins versus Andy Murray: 3
Losses versus Andy Murray: 0
