Low profile
Novak Djokovic has been flying under the radar at these Championships. As the No.12 seed, slowly rediscovering the mojo that took him to 12 Grand Slam trophies, he’s fine with that.
For all the talk of the top two seeds – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – edging nearer to that rematch of their epic Wimbledon 2008 final, the Serb has quietly gone about adding another chapter to a more enduring rivalry.
Kevin Anderson scuttled any chance of a Federer versus Nadal rematch on Wednesday, but Nadal - the world No.1 - ensured the most-contested rivalry of the Open Era in gentlemen's tennis would be renewed in the semi-finals when he booked his 52nd showdown with Djokovic.
It is a series the Serb leads narrowly, 26-25, though Nadal is ahead 9-4 in Grand Slams and, of those, 4-0 in Grand Slam semi-finals.
"There is no other match in the history of tennis that has been played more than our matches. That's a big thing. We always played in important stages, important places,” Nadal said.
"Friday is another important match against an opponent who is one of the most difficult ones that you can face. He's playing well. The only way to try to win it is play very well.”
Paris classic
Much has changed since their most recent encounter at a major, a telling quarter-final victory for Djokovic in 2015, his first in their rivalry at Roland-Garros. Nadal had claimed all five previous matches between the pair on the clay in Paris, including a four-hour, 37-minute classic over the then world No.1 in the 2013 semi-finals.
Djokovic’s 2015 breakthrough meant he had beaten his rival at all four majors, an achievement that has eluded Nadal.
The three years-plus that have elapsed since then is their longest stretch between Grand Slam encounters. Both men are injury-free and playing near to their best again.
“I feel if I have to compare the game that I've played - the level of tennis that I've had those years and today - I think it's pretty close,” Djokovic said. “I know, as everything in life, we are evolving. I'm a different person, different player today.
“I like the level of tennis that I'm playing right now, I really do. I think, with the performances I've had, I deserve to be in the semi-finals. I don't want to stop here. I hope I can get a chance to fight for a trophy.”
Career Grand Slam
The Serb has not added to his tally of majors since completing the career Grand Slam at Roland-Garros in 2016, while Nadal has rebounded from a disastrous 18-month stretch to capture three more and extend his haul to 17.
That Roland-Garros victory in 2015 was part of an astonishing 15-set winning streak for Djokovic over the Spaniard, with seven straight match victories, before Nadal ended his run in the Madrid semi-finals in May last year. The Spaniard has won their only encounter since, in the Rome semi-finals on clay this year.
This will be their first meeting at the All England Club since 2011, when Djokovic prevailed in four sets to win the first of his three Wimbledon titles. The Serb displaced Nadal for the world No.1 ranking with that triumph on his way to one of the most dominant seasons in the sport’s history, a season in which he was unbeaten in six finals against Nadal.
The pair battled it out in four straight Grand Slam deciders in 2011-2012, with Djokovic landing Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open (the longest Grand Slam final in history, a five-hour, 53-minute marathon). Nadal prevented the Serb’s career Slam with victory in Paris.
“Always it is a big challenge to face Novak,” Nadal said. “He is one of the more complex players that I ever saw in our sport. It is always a big test.”
There is no more time for Djokovic to quietly rebuild momentum. The toughest opponent in his Grand Slam career awaits.
