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The game that we all wanted to see for the 2022 French Open is officially taking place today. Of course, I am referencing the Nadal vs Djokovic quarter-final clash. This one is set to be played on Phillipe Chatrier tonight, and it really is a mouthwatering prospect. But which way will this match swing? After all, Rafael Nadal is the greatest clay-court player to have ever lived. Whereas Djokovic is the world number one. And many regard him as the greatest all-around player to have ever played the sport.
Then again, we can’t just look at the record books to get an idea of who might win this match. And in my opinion, there are a few key indicators that suggest that Novak Djokovic will take the win tonight. Why do I believe this to be the case? Well, I’ve gone into detail on this below.
Nadal vs Djokovic Prediction – Djokovic to Win
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Taking everything into account, I feel that Novak Djokovic will get the better of Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals this evening. Should this happen, it could be Nadal’s fourth defeat at Roland Garros in his career – three of them against the great Serbian. And as promised, I want to show you why I have come up with this prediction right now:
Nadal Not 100% Fit
Although Nadal keeps his cards close to his chest regarding injuries and fitness, we all know that he isn’t 100% at the moment. He had a stress fracture in his rib earlier in the season, which forced him out for six weeks. And again in Rome, his chronic foot injury flared up during his defeat against Shapovalov. So for me, it’s a given that his foot injury may well hinder his performance, especially when he will be pushed to the limit against a guy like Djokovic.
Night Conditions Favour Djokovic
Everyone was keeping an eye out for the schedule of the Djokovic vs Nadal game. And again, it’s no huge secret that Nadal wanted to play the game during the day. Nadal’s groundstrokes are heavier and more lively during the day, mainly due to the hotter temperatures. As for Djokovic, given that he is able to hit a flatter ball, the night conditions suit him well. At the same time, Nadal’s shots won’t be causing him as much trouble as they could’ve been during the day.
Djokovic Recent Form
Out of these two guys, for me, it’s Djokovic that is in the greatest form right now. Of course, Nadal had a sensational start to the season before losing in the final of Indian Wells. And back then, Djokovic was barely competing. But recently, Djokovic has won the Rome Masters without dropping a set. And so far in the 2022 French Open, he hasn’t dropped a set. Not only that, but he has been striking the ball incredibly well.
Djokovic the Fresher of the Two
Thanks to the way he has been playing, Djokovic has enjoyed very little court time to make it through to this point. In total, Djokovic has been on the court for a little over 8 hours to make it to the quarters. In contrast, Nadal has been on the court for close to 11 hours. However, the previous round is the one that will play a pivotal role here. It took Nadal 4 hours and 21 minutes to beat Auger-Aliassime, so he could well be tired from that encounter.
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