Tennis fans around the world are in for another high-energy, pulsating showdown between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as arguably the top-two tennis players in the world battle each other on Friday for a spot in the finals at the 2013 French Open.
Nadal is just a couple of wins away from nabbing his eighth French Open title, even though the path to another Roland Garros triumph took a testy turn as the King of Clay faces a highly-motivated Djokovic in an 'unexpected' semifinal clash.
Seeded no.4 in the ranking, Nadal was bracketed in the same half as the top-ranked Djokovic for this clay-court Grand Slam tournament. Although both encountered early round hiccups, Nadal and Djokovic toppled each other's competition to arrange what could be another epic affair on the red dirt of Court Philippe Chatrier.
Nadal enters Friday's semifinal with 19 wins out of 34 career matches with Djokovic. However, the Serb managed to beat Nadal 8 out of their last 11 matches, including a rare clay-court victory over the Mallorcan in the finals of the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters.
Both fresh from straight set victories in the quarterfinal round, it will be a pretty even playing field for Nadal and Djokovic.
Nadal, who's having a terrific season coming off a serious knee injury, might be the slight favorite to win this match; but Djokovic's increasingly improving clay-court play allows him to poise a real threat to Nadal's dynasty at Roland Garros.
With titles at the Australian, US and Wimbledon Open already around his belt, Djokovic is seeking to complete a career Grand Slam with a title here in Paris. Nadal, on the other hand, tries to win his 12th Grand Slam and enhance his status as the most dominant clay-court player of all-time.
The winner of the Nadal-Djokovic match will face the winner of the other semis match between David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Live Stream (Radio)
Live stream coverage can be seen by clicking here.
Schedule
For the full schedule of Men's Singles Quarterfinal of the Roland Garros (Monday) click here.
Live Score
Live scores could be followed by clicking here.
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