Rafael Nadal And Coco Gauff Are Spectacular At Roland Garros!
Roland Garros
June 1, 2022
Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic in one of the most extraordinary performances of his entire career.
The match began in May and ended in June, as though one month alone wasn’t enough to contain such drama.
The Spaniard played sensational tennis to overcome top-ranked Novak and reach the semi-finals.
Coco Gauff was also supreme as she defeated her compatriot Sloane Stephens with another silky display.
Rafael Nadal and Coco Gauff are in top form for Wimbledon 2022!
How lucky are we to see the best-loved players shine at just the right time?
There are no words to describe the fitness and fighting spirit of the ultimate tennis gladiator.
Nadal needed all his warrior qualities to stay on top of a resurgent Djokovic over more than four hours.
The result was a sporting level sent straight from the tennis gods and a marvellous 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory.
One game alone lasted nearly twenty minutes before Djokovic seized the second-set initiative.
Whenever Novak took back the momentum, Rafa summoned something more.
The sheer will to win and desire for a 14th French Open title at nearly 36 years of age was staggering.
And that’s just it. Nadal plays like every match at Roland Garros could be his last.
The same will be true at Wimbledon 2022. Rafa doesn’t want his career to end. So he just finds something extra whenever he needs it.
Nadal explained: ‘To win against Novak there is only one way and that is to play your best from the first point to the last. This is one of those magic nights for me.’
Rafa came out with all guns blazing but Djokovic stole control in the second and appeared to have all the momentum.
Suddenly the Serb was looking fresher and hitting huge forehands.
But Novak didn’t seem prepared for the sheer intensity of the occasion. He was psychologically ring-rusty when it came to a really brutal fight.
Djokovic was 5-2 up in the fourth but lost his way as Rafa fought his way back into contention.
Ruthless Nadal didn’t waste his chance and now he faces Sascha Zverev in the semi-final.
The big German pulled off a shock of his own by downing new sensation Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7).
We thought the tennis on show in the clash between the younger men was unbeatable for entertainment.
Then the all-time-greats took us onto another tennis planet.
And let’s not forget Coco Gauff! She has so much more power and athleticism than she did in the summer when she first captured Wimbledon hearts three years ago.
Coco beat Stephens 7-5, 6-2 to reach her first French Open semi-final – and her carefree personality is simply inspirational.
‘Even last year I was too focused on trying to live up to other people’s expectations of me,’ she explained.
‘As long as you love yourself, who cares what anyone else thinks?’
Wimbledon 2022 will love Coco Gauff and Rafael Nadal!
They are generations apart but they are both special people and unique tennis talents.
Will you be there to cheer on Coco and Rafa at Wimbledon 2022?
There is still time to book your seats on Centre Court in this, the famous old arena’s Centenary Year!