“Very tough match. Djokovic is one of the best players in history. Playing against him is always a big challenge. Against him there’s only one way to play - at your best level from the first point to the last.
“And today was a magic night for me. Unexpected level from me.”
A 10-minute opening game,won by Nadal on Djokovic’s serve,set the tone of the clash of the heavyweights.
“Rafa,Rafa!” the crowd chanted.
He broke a second time with a trademark forehand winner down the line before wrapping up the first set on serve when Djokovic made his ninth unforced error.
The Serbian fell 3-0 behind in the second,but a poorly-executed drop shot by Nadal allowed him to pull a break back.
Novak Djokovic could head to Wimbledon two major titles adrift of Rafael Nadal.Credit:Getty
A smile appeared on Djokovic’s face. In a key 18-minute sixth game,Djokovic broke again on his fifth attempt when Nadal’s backhand went wide.
He faced a break point in the following game but Nadal was playing too short and the Serbian bagged his fourth consecutive gale in a spectacular turnaround.
Nadal just managed to hold for 4-4 but cracked on serve at 5-4 as Djokovic levelled the match.
The Mallorcan,however,started the third set in similar fashion as the first,racing to a 4-1 lead and wrapping it up on yet another unforced error from Djokovic.
An ecstatic Alexander Zverev celebrates his victory over Carlos Alcaraz.Credit:Getty
In a see-sawing contest,Djokovic regained the upper hand to open a 3-0 lead in the fourth set but Nadal would not go into a fifth set,breaking back for 4-5 before forcing a tie-breaker in which he gave his opponent no chance.
Zverev earlier appeared calm as a monk compared to the exuberance of his teenage opponent Carlos Alcaraz during their gruelling quarter-final and the German believes reining in his emotions was crucial to his win.
With the vast majority of the crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier rooting for the 19-year-old,who was on a 14-match winning streak,Zverev showed nerves of steel for the entire three hours and 18 minutes of the match.
“I think it was extremely important because I knew that it was going to be a very long and very physical match,and I couldn’t show too many emotions because that also makes you tired,” Zverev said.
Coco Gauff of the US celebrates as she defeats Sloane Stephens.Credit:Thibault Camus
“That also drains the energy of you. So I had to stay calm. I had to stay calm throughout the whole match,even though I feel like I left chances in the third set behind,so I had to stay calm when I lost the third set.
American teenager Coco Gauff,meanwhile,will play against unseeded Italian Martina Trevisan in the women’s semi-finals.
Gauff powered past compatriot Sloane Stephens 7-5,6-2 to book her semi-final spot in her biggest victory at a grand slam.
The 18-year-old,the youngest player left in the draw who was hit by a brief spell of nerves late in the game,will next play Trevisan for a place in Saturday’s final.
“I feel so happy right now. Words can’t explain it. Last year in the quarters was a tough loss and that made me stronger for moments like today,” 18th seed Gauff said after reaching her first semi-final at a major.
“Last time I played her (Stephens) I lost so I am happy it went differently today. I think it was a mental challenge today.”
Gauff,the youngest female player to reach multiple grand slam quarter-finals since 2007 after also reaching the French Open last eight in 2021,stormed to a 3-0 lead in a one-sided start to the all-American encounter.
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With Gauff forcing the 29-year-old Stephens to the net with a string of well-executed drop shots and holding serve confidently,she cruised to a 5-2 lead.
Trevisan beat the 17th-seeded Canadian and US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-2,6-7 (7-3),6-3.
AP/Reuters
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