Rafael Nadal has been dealt a blow ahead of his French Open quarter-final match with Novak Djokovic, with the World No 1 being handed the advantage as they get ready to clash in the night-time session on Tuesday.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion - who has won on the Parisian clay a record 13 times - revealed he prefers the warm conditions players get during the day-time matches, while Djokovic wanted the new night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The decision to have their match played in the prime time slot means teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz will face Olympic champion Alexander Zverev during the day.
The anticipated meeting between Djokovic and Nadal has been scheduled foe 8.45pm local time - 7.45pm in the UK - which was the Serb’s preferred slot to play. It will be just the second time the new night sessions are being utilised, and the Spaniard admitted he didn’t like the new addition after he defeated Corentin Moutet on Wednesday night.
“I don't like night sessions on clay. I say the other day. I am very clear with that,” the Nadal has previously admitted. “I don't like to play on clay during the night, because humidity is higher, the ball is slower, and can be very heavy conditions especially when it's cold.
“I think that makes a big difference on the way who played tennis on clay during the night and during the day.”
Nadal needed five sets to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round, defeating the 21-year-old 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3. He will face a fresh Djokovic, who moved past Diego Schwartzman in straight sets.
Who will come out on top between Nadal and Djokovic? Let us know in the comments section.
The debate surrounding the schedule was originally ignited after the pair won their respective third-round matches, placing them within a win of a rematch of last year’s semi-final. Djokovic suggested the two rivals would definitely be making different requests but accepted the ultimate decision was down to the tournament director and TV rights holders.
In France, Amazon Prime Video have exclusive rights to the new night session matches as part of a £12.8 million deal, giving them greater leverage over free-to-air French TV, which has a £8.5 million contract to broadcast the day session matches, which draw a bigger viewership. Roland Garros announced the Djokovic-Nadal battle will be made free to watch on Amazon Prime in France, while British viewers will be able to watch on Eurosport.
With the two legends facing one another in the night session, Alcaraz and Zverev will clash earlier - much to the relief of the Spaniard. The 19-year-old was concerned he would be playing in a third night session match, enduring another late finish.
“Even if you finish at midnight, you have to look at everything that comes after that: dinner, physio,” Alcaraz said. “You don't rest the same because of the adrenaline of the match. If I play a third time at night it wouldn't seem fair to me.”
However, Zverev declared he was preparing for a night-time match as he claimed the tournament was building the schedule around the progress of the sixth seed. After beating Bernabe Zapata Miralles on Sunday, the German said: “It's obvious in which direction things are going and who the tournament wants to see go through.
“I’m pretty sure I'm going to play at night against Alcaraz, because that's just how it's gonna be. I'm getting ready for that.”
