Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP French Open

Prediction published on 29/05/2022, 16:11  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 29/05/2022 at 17:30 in Tennis Predictions

We have a last eight encounter in the French Open that would be worthy of any final. Top seeded Novak Djokovic takes on the fifth seed Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals. This is the first time since 2016 that the pair have met before the semi-finals of a tournament. Djokovic leads Nadal 30-28 in previous meetings but the Spaniard leads the Serb 19-7 on clay. Djokovic made a slow start to the year due to his off-court problems. He got to the final in Belgrade and the semi-finals in Madrid and then won the Rome Masters. He's been getting better as the weeks have gone by and has reached the last eight without dropping a set. In the 12 sets he's won, only one has seen his opponent win more than three games. Nine of his last 11 appearances at Roland Garros have seen Djokovic get to at least the semi-finals. 

While Djokovic was missing tournaments earlier in the year, Rafa Nadal was in top form and won three titles in a row, including the Australian Open. Then he was injured in the Indian Wells final and didn't return until the clay court season. Two tournaments in Madrid and Rome saw him reach only the quarter finals and the last 16. Nadal had three straight sets wins at Roland Garros but then had a real struggle in the last 16. He lost the first set to Felix Auger-Aliassime and eventually won a final set decider 6-3. How much has that taken out of him? This could well be another five set match but it's Djokovic who looks in the better form and he did beat Nadal at Roland Garros last year. Go for him to get another win.