Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sporting ExcitementSporting Excitement

Tennis

Novak Djokovic beats Rafa Nadal in historic French Open win as fans are allowed to break coronavirus curfew

, Novak Djokovic beats Rafa Nadal in historic French Open win as fans are allowed to break coronavirus curfew

KING OF CLAY Rafa Nadal was spectacularly dethroned by Novak Djokovic in a curfew-bending French Open classic.

In a match that will go down in the annals of history, one of the defining moments of their extraordinary and engrossing rivalry, Serbian Djokovic inflicted the THIRD defeat on Nadal at Roland Garros in 16 years.

Rafa Nadal crashed out of the French Open after defeat to Novak Djokovic

It was after more than four hours of spellbinding tennis that the world No.1 prevailed 3-6 6-3 7-6 6-2 in their 58th meeting.

It was a match that had everything, all the audacious shots you could imagine, and a one major law-breaking moment.

The 5,000 fans on the Court Philippe-Chatrier were supposed to leave for home at 11pm local time due to the citywide Covid-19 curfew.

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Yet due to the extraordinary quality of the tennis – yes, it was that remarkable – the authorities ripped up the rulebook and allowed them all to stay.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

It was an extraordinary decision, perhaps one influenced by a sudden phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Cornwall.

In reality, nobody was going anywhere. This was one of those real value-for-money tickets, a match that will be remembered for decades.

In an arena where he had won a record 13 singles titles, Nadal took the early initiative when he clinched the first set on the seventh set-point. At one stage it appeared he might take it 6-0 last the 2020 final.

The second set was equally brutal and intensive, Djokovic showing why he is such a worthy champion as he levelled up.

The 97-minute third set went to a tie-breaker and given the tension, drama and array of shot-making on display, it was not necessarily hyperbole by many observers to describe it as one of the greatest sets they had witnessed.

With Nadal hobbling and hindered by an ankle problem, Djokovic sensed this was his moment and he managed to close out the fourth set to book a sixth final on Paris red clay.

Perhaps the biggest winner of all this was a tearful Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had earlier overcame several “emotional breakdowns” to reach a maiden major final.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The Athens ace, known on the ATP Tour for his quirky personality and travel video blogs, broke new ground for his country by crushing the spirit of Alex Zverev in the semi-finals.

This was a coming-of-age display for the 22-year-old Next Gen star, who beat Zverev 6-3 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3 in a three-hour 37-minute topsy-turvy encounter.

Having squandered a two-set lead, Tsitsipas then faced three break points in the opening game of the fifth set.

Yet the No.5 seed showed courage and bottle, giving fans back home in Greece plenty of excuse to smash lots of plates in celebration.

With tears in his eyes, Tsitsipas said: “My dream was to play here, my dream to play on the big stage of the French Open one day. I’d have never thought I would make it.

“I went through a lot of phases of emotional breakdowns but this win means a lot. This is the most important one of my career so far.

“There were a lot of people who were raising flags and cheering me on in Greek.

“It is important for me to do my job well enough to have recognition back in my country.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“I’m very happy Greece is part of the tennis community.”

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest

Premier League

Xabi Alonso Prefers to Stay at Bayer Leverkusen Liverpool is in search of a new manager following Jurgen Klopp's departure, but reports suggest that...

Premier League

Major Rule Change The Premier League has implemented a significant rule change regarding ball boys and girls after a recent incident involving Coventry manager...

Premier League

Green Light for Ambitious Project Birmingham City FC is on the verge of finalizing a £50 million deal to acquire an abandoned motor circuit...

Premier League

Dynamic Trio of Best Pals Erling Haaland is known for his pranks, and according to Sander Berge, the close friendship between Haaland, Martin Odegaard,...

Premier League

Nuno's Reaction Nuno Espirito Santo revealed his anger and frustration after being informed about Nottingham Forest's four-point deduction for breaking financial rules, which pushed...

Premier League

Arsenal Fans Rally Behind Jailed Journalist Evan Gershkovich, an Arsenal fan and journalist, remains confined in Moscow's Lefortovo Prison on spying charges laid by...

Advertisement
Advertisement

Facebook

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement