French Open 2022 LIVE: Iga Swiatek wins after Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic

Follow all the action from Day 11 at the French Open as the quarter-finals continue at Roland Garros.

The tennis world is still recovering from an epic late-night contest between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic yesterday as the Spaniard triumphed in four sets over his great rival. A marathon match finished at 1.15am local time as Nadal ground out a pulsating 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (4) win over the defending champion as the prospect of a record-extending 22nd men’s grand slam title moves closer to reality. He will now face Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals after the German halted the rise of young phenom Carlos Alcaraz in another thrilling match.

Today’s action sees Veronika Kudermetova take on Daria Kasatkina in an all-Russian quarter-final on Court Philippe Chatrier before world No 1 Iga Swiatek takes on Jessica Pegula. The winner of those two matches will play one other in the semi-finals, with 18-year-old Coco Gauff and Martina Trevisan meeting in the last-four on the other side of the draw as the teenage American bids to win her first grand slam title. In the men’s singles, Marin Cilic will face Andrey Rublev before Casper Ruud plays Holger Rune.

Follow all the action, scores and results from Roland Garros.

French Open 2022

• World No. 1 Swiatek beats Pegula 6-3 6-2

• Kasatkina 6-4 7-6 Kudermetova

• Rublev vs Cilic

• Ruud vs Rune

• Nadal defeats Djokovic in four-set epic

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 6-2 Pegula

15:21 , Michael Jones

Iga Swiatek might already have a foot in the French Open final. She has already beaten Daria Kasatkina three times this season withh all three victories coming in straight sets.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 6-2 Pegula

15:15 , Michael Jones

The number one seed, Iga Swiatek, is into the French Open semi-finals where Daria Kasatkina awaits. Will the 2020 French Open champion regain the title this year?

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 6-2 Pegula

15:12 , Michael Jones

Iga Swiatek wins the match!

A powerful return to Pegula’s backhand leaves an easy passing winner for the Pole who rolls her wrist over the shot to move withing one point of the game.

Swiatek gets the next serve back over the net and starts to control the backhand rally before eventully punting one down the line and taking the game, the set and the match!

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 5-2 Pegula*

15:10 , Michael Jones

This is a crucial game for Jessica Pegula. She saves another match point and has two chances to win the game but Swiatek won’t go away.

Pegula is too hasty to win the rally and rattles a return into the net to bring the match back to deuce.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 5-2 Pegula*

15:07 , Michael Jones

Brilliant from Pegula! Swiatek wins three of the first four points off her serve to set up two match points. The next serve is wide to the forehand and Swiatek finds the net before Pegula fires an ace right on the line.

Deuce.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 5-2 Pegula*

15:05 , Michael Jones

Yet another hold of serve from Swiatek from a promising position for her opponent. She’s just too good. One game away from the semi-finals now.

French Open 2022: Swiatek* 6-3, 4-2 Pegula

15:02 , Michael Jones

Iga Swiatek was made double the amount of unforced errors as Jessica Pegula (16 to 8) which is giving the American hope in this set.

On Swiatek’s serve twice she goes wide and Pegula moves 15-30 in front. Swiatek’s next serve lands in the net and Pegula has the chance to capitalise on the second serve. She steps up and works a forehand return to the back of the court but puts it too long.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 4-2 Pegula*

14:59 , Michael Jones

A fine service game from Jessica Pegula seems her stem the winning tide of Iga Swiatek to take the next game. She closes out the game with an ace out wide that Swiatek thinks landed out of play.

The umpire comes over to check the mark and awards the point to the American.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 4-1 Pegula*

14:54 , Michael Jones

Swiatek records her fourth ace of the match to win the next game and comfortably hold her own serve. The world no.1 is only two games away from the next round and a spot in the semi-finals.

French Open 2022: Swiatek* 6-3, 3-1 Pegula

14:51 , Michael Jones

Oh my. Iga Swiatek gets the first break of the second set and opens up a two game lead on her American opponent. She cruised to the next two points of the game to break Pegula’s serve.

That’s eight out of the last 10 games going Swiatek’s way.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 2-1 Pegula*

14:50 , Michael Jones

Pegula finds herself under pressure in her service game and Swiatek moves 30-40 and sets up a break point. A sudden switch to the forehand in the next rally seems to throw Swiatek out of position and she spoons her return well wide of the court.

Deuce.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 2-1 Pegula*

14:45 , Michael Jones

Strong hold. Swiatek was starting to come under pressure with her opponent sitting on break point but Pegula knocks her next return of serve wide then loses the following two points to give the Pole the game and the lead.

French Open 2022: Swiatek* 6-3, 1-1 Pegula

14:44 , Michael Jones

Great rally! It ebbs and flows as Swiatek takes the early initiative and forces Pegula back behind the baseline. She can’t find a winner though and Pegula works her backhand to great effect mixing powerful shots with defensive slices to stay in the rally. Eventually she pivots onto her forehand and sends a passing winner down Swiatek’s left side to give herself a break point.

French Open 2022: Swiatek* 6-3, 1-1 Pegula

14:41 , Michael Jones

Pegula isn’t being shy about attempting to win points. She latches onto a backhand return and sends it down the line but just puts it too wide and loses the point. The intent and the opportunity were both there for her though.

Swiatek finds the net on game point and brings Pegula up to deuce. She misses her first serve but Pegula belts her return long on the next attempt. A frustrating moment for the American.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 1-1 Pegula*

14:36 , Michael Jones

Yes she can! Swiatek seems to have control of the rally with a powerful forehand to the baseline. Pegula stays in the rally with a sliced return as Swiatek steps up to the net. She goes for a winner but overhits the shot and gives the point and the game to the American.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 6-3, 1-0 Pegula*

14:34 , Michael Jones

Swiatek wins the next three points on the bounce and goes in front after the first game of the second set. The Pole isn’t playing to the best of her ability but she is still finding the way to win.

Jessica Pegula has had a bit of joy with her first serves in this current game. Swiatek has missed a few returns and the American has moved quickly up to 40-30.

Can she hold her serve?

French Open 2022: Swiatek* 6-3, 0-0 Pegula

14:30 , Michael Jones

Iga Swiatek takes the first set and the first point in the second with a serve down the line that Pegula fails to deal with. After some issues with the crowd moving about Swiatek sends her next serve to Pegula’s forehand and she smokes it back.

The world no. 1 is forced into the corner and replies with a cross-court backhand to set up a rally of powerful backhanders between both women. Pegula moves first and sends one down the line forcing Siwatek’s return into the net. 15-15.

French Open 2022: Swiatek wins first set

14:26 , Tom Kershaw

Pegula takes a 30-0 lead as she serves to stay in the set but is then dragged all the way to deuce by Swiatek. An unforced error on the backhand gives the world No 1 set point but she blasts a backhand way long as she attacks Pegula’s poor second serve. She strikes at the second time of asking though after two more errors from the American.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 5-3* Pegula

14:20 , Tom Kershaw

Swiatek is put under a little pressure at 30-30 but a calmy executed smash leaves Pegula no chance. The American’s defence has been really good, though, and she does everything to keep the point alive before Swiatek’s forehand down the line strays inches wide of the line. Pegula makes an unforced error at deuce though, sending a backhand way long after having the upper hand in the point, and Swiatek holds.

French Open 2022: Swiatek *4-3 Pegula

14:15 , Tom Kershaw

That’s better from Swiatek! She somehow manages to clip Pegula’s drop shot back over the net to get the break.

French Open 2022: Swiatek *2-3 Pegula

14:06 , Tom Kershaw

That’s 12 unforced errors in the space of five games from the world No 1. She is yet to hit her stride and Pegula has no problems holding serve to 15.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 2-2* Pegula

14:02 , Tom Kershaw

After straying long with a backhand, Swiatek reasserts herself with a composed display of serving. A simple hold to 15.

French Open 2022: Swiatek *1-2 Pegula

14:00 , Tom Kershaw

Swiatek gets back in the groove with a fine forehand down the line winner at 15-15. Pegula’s aggression is causing her problems, though, and she fights back and they go to deuce again. Nothing gives between the pair of them, who exchange winners and forced errors and Swiatek certainly hasn’t found her top gear yet. Pegula holds and that’s huge for the American’s momentum.

French Open 2022: Swiatek 1-1* Pegula

13:51 , Tom Kershaw

Swiatek dispatches a looping return with a brilliant backhand that’s taken early and leaves Pegula with no chance. She almost miscues a simple smash on the next point though and laughs in relief as the ball just about clips the line. A big serve takes us to 40-0.

Pegula gives a reminder of her presence with a fine winner to get a point on the board before Swiatek misjudges a backhand as she comes into the net. At 40-3, there’s an opening and an unforced error takes the game to deuce. Two more unforced errors sees Pegula break back!

French Open 2022: Swiatek *1-0 Pegula

13:46 , Tom Kershaw

A stunning start from the world No 1. She immediately dominates the rallies, takes Pegula to deuce and then grinds the American down into submission with a series of thudding forehands.

French Open 2022: Swiatek vs Pegula

13:39 , Tom Kershaw

The pair have played against each other twice before, both times on a hard court. Pegula won their first meeting in three sets in Washington in 2019 before Swiatek triumphed in straight sets earlier this year in Miami.

French Open 2022: Swiatek vs Pegula

13:37 , Tom Kershaw

Next up, it’s the world No 1 and pre-tournament favourite Iga Swiatek, who has won her last 32 matches in succession, against Jessica Pegula.

Swiatek did drop her first set of the tournament in the previous round but she recovered typically emphatically, winning twelve of the next fourteen games to close out victory.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-7 Kasatkina

13:31 , Tom Kershaw

Kasatkina: “You could see that the match was really nervous and tight, especially the tie-break.

“The last few points were super tight. I’m happy at the end that I won. I’m happy to be in the semis for the first time.”

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-7 Kasatkina

13:25 , Tom Kershaw

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-7 Kasatkina

13:18 , Tom Kershaw

And there it is. The tiebreak featured more than a few jitters towards the end as the pressure got to Kasatkina. Kudermetova won a fantastic point at 6-2 down with a superb backhand winner down the line. That’s the shot she’d been lacking all match. It goes all the way back to 6-5 with Kudermetova to serve, but Kasatkina finally wraps it up at the fifth time of asking with an exquisite backhand drop shot. She’s through to a grand slam semi-final for the first time.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-6 (0-5) Kasatkina

13:13 , Tom Kershaw

The tiebreak is going from bad to worse for Kudermetova. She drags a simple forehand into the tramlines. It’s a long, long way back from here.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-6 (0-4) Kasatkina

13:12 , Tom Kershaw

Another Kudermetova mistake makes it 3-0 and she starts to show her frustration. She’s made five unforced errors since the medical timeout. Kasatkina then forces another backhand error after being on the front foot in a long rally.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-6 (0-2) Kasatkina

13:10 , Tom Kershaw

Kasatkina wins the opening point with a stunning backhand winner from such an acute angle. A poor Kudermetova return then makes it 2-0.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-6 Kasatkina

13:09 , Tom Kershaw

Kasatkina moves to 30-0 but then sees her momentum halted by a double fault. Kudermetova then strays long with another forehand though to bring up two game points. She takes the first after another similar error and we’re heading to a tiebreak in this second set.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-5 Kasatkina*

13:07 , Tom Kershaw

After an eight-minute delay, Kasatkina will serve to stay in the second set.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-5 Kasatkina*

13:01 , Tom Kershaw

There could be a delay here. Kudermetova has called for a medical timeout and taken off her left shoe as she awaits treatment.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 6-5 Kasatkina*

12:59 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova is taken to deuce but again Kastakina plays a little within herself and sees a winner swatted past her. Kudermetova then forces the error to seal out an important hold. Kasatkina has had her chances to close out this match. Now, she’s serving to stay in the set.

French Open 2022: *Kudermetova 4-6 5-5 Kasatkina

12:57 , Tom Kershaw

She can’t close it out! Kudermetova’s bludgeoning forehands don’t fly astray this time. An emphatic cross-court winner brings up break point and her aggressive play blows away Kasatkina, who has got a little tentative as the finish line has come into sight.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 4-5 Kasatkina*

12:55 , Tom Kershaw

Kasatkina breaks back immediately! It’s almost handed to her as Kudermetova again falls into the trap of making critical errors. She saves the first break point but Kasatkina strikes on the second. She will now serve for the match

French Open 2022: *Kudermetova 4-6 4-4 Kasatkina

12:44 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova delivers a thunderous forehand to take advantage of Kasatkina’s poor second serve. Kasatkina responds immediately with a fantastic forehand cross-court winner of her own but then double faults to go 15-30. A fantastic backhand drop-shot shows no sign of nerves though and catches Kudermetova out completely. An erratic return brings up game point but then Kudermetova delivers an exquisite drop shot of her own.

It goes to deuce and Kudermetova breaks back!

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 3-4 Kasatkina*

12:37 , Tom Kershaw

Kasatkina opens the game with a magnificent driving forehand winner from way behind the baseline. Kudermetova responds with a series of blistering groundstrokes though for her first comfortable hold of serve in a long time. Those are the shots that make her so deadly but they just haven’t been consistent enough today. She’s made 34 unforced errors to Kasatkina’s 17.

French Open 2022: *Kudermetova 4-6 2-4 Kasatkina

12:32 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova can’t dial in her groundstrokes and another attempt at a backhand winner strays wide. Kasatkina then produces a fabulous backhand down the line passing shot as if to show Kudermetova what she’s lacking. She’s taken to deuce by two powerful cross-court backhands but again Kasatkina’s defence holds firm. She’s just two games away now.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 2-3 Kasatkina*

12:30 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova finally grinds out a hold but it’s such hard work as her first serve is so wayward. She remains a break down in this second set.

French Open 2022: *Kudermetova 4-6 1-3 Kasatkina

12:25 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova’s frustration starts to show. She hurls herself a little wildly at flat returns and it’s quickly 40-0. Finally, a big forehand finds the mark but it’s quickly made irrelevant as Kasatkina closes out the game.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 1-2 Kasatkina*

12:21 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova is staring down the barrel again at 15-40 but rallies well and then Kasatkina misses a forehand down the line. A momentous battle at deuce ensues as they go back and forth. The umpire is out of his chair to check a smudge along the baseline after the ball was initially called out. It’s judged to have just clipped the line though, much to Kudermetova’s dismay, and Kasatkina compounds her misery by finally taking the break.

French Open 2022: *Kudermetova 4-6 1-1 Kasatkina

12:07 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova fights back immediately though with a rapid break to 15. She was able to raise her level there but can she sustain it? She’s been broken on her last two service games.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-6 0-1 Kasatkina*

12:06 , Tom Kershaw

Katastkina brings up two break points to make Kudermetova immediately uncomfortable at the start of the second set but she berates herself after an unforced backhand error. They go to deuce and this time she gets the break.

French Open 2022: Kasatkina wins first set

11:57 , Tom Kershaw

Kasatkina’s second serve is weak and Kudermetova blasts a forehand return straight back at her. It’s Kasatkina who has the quality in the rallies though, dragging her opponent across the baseline and eventually drawing the error. A double fault undoes that hard work though and it’s 15-15. Another poor second serve sits up but Kudermetova blasts the easy opportunity long. She’s just making too many unforced errors like that.

Kasatkina shows some brilliant defence, leaning on a deep backhand slice, to bring up a set point and she closes it out.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-5* Kasatkina

11:48 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova is under pressure again as her first serve wavers and Kasatkina takes a 0-30 lead in the game.

Kudermetova then has the upper hand in a brilliant cross-court rally, executes a fine drop shot but then sends her forehand passing shot long with half of the court gaping. That mistake brings up two break points but Kasatkina only needs one, drilling a forehand winner that leaves Kudermetova stuck in her tracks. She will now serve for the opening set.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova *4-4 Kasatkina

11:43 , Tom Kershaw

Kudermetova makes three consecutive unforced errors on her return of serve to give Kasatkina the easiest of 40-0 leads in the game. A rally then goes a little longer at least before another forehand is dragged wide. Kasatkina holds.

French Open 2022: Kudermetova 4-3* Kasatkina

11:40 , Tom Kershaw

Welcome back to our coverage of the French Open. It’s been a close-fought quarter-final so far between Veronika Kudermetova and Daria Kasatkina. Kudermetova is taken to deuce but closes out the game emphatically to keep the first set on serve.

French Open 2022: Day 10 ends

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:55 , Tom Kershaw

Thanks very much for joining our coverage from Roland Garros today. We’ll leave you with the report on an extraordinary match.

Rafael Nadal defeats Novak Djokovic in late-night French Open epic

French Open 2022: Nadal remains coy on future

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:45 , Tom Kershaw

Urged to reassure fans that this won’t be his last French Open, Nadal said: “See you in two days, that’s the only thing I can say. Thank you.”

French Open 2022: Djokovic on his defeat

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:32 , Tom Kershaw

“He was just able to take his tennis to another level in those particular moments in the beginning of all sets, except the fourth...I had my chances...he showed why he’s a great champion, staying mentally tough...he deserved it.”

French Open 2022: Nadal on his victory

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:25 , Tom Kershaw

“I am very emotional, thank you, thank you everyone. It was incredible for me. It was so important for the crowd to be behind me. It was really special. It was a very tough match, Novak is one of the best players in history. There is only one way to beat Novak and that is to play at your best.”

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-7 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:21 , Tom Kershaw

French Open 2022: Nadal wins in four sets

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:17 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal wins! A net cord helped him in the rally, he reasserted himself by getting back on the forehand, Djokovic’s response was too short and the Spaniard drives a backhand winner down the line. What a match.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:15 , Tom Kershaw

An astonishingly good return from Djokovic. He blazes it straight past Nadal, who had no chance. 6-4.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:14 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic saves another, forcing Nadal into a forehand error. It’s the Spaniard who has the serve now though.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:13 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic saves the first with a huge kick serve out wide and a punched backhand winner that leaves Nadal wrong-footed. Four match points to go. 6-2.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:12 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic attempts a drop shot that was a little desperate under the circumstances and it clips the net. It’s 6-1 Nadal. Five match points!

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:12 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal turns the screw! After straying long, Djokovic returns the favour and Nadal now leads 4-1.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:09 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal makes a blistering start to the tiebreak, forcing Djokovic into a backhand error before a fantastic whipped forehand winner from Nadal.

The Spaniard then pre-empts Djokovic’s forehand and on the next point and takes a 3-0 lead!

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-6 Nadal

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:06 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal holds! We’re heading to a tiebreak. Is the Spaniard seven points from victory, or will Djokovic take this four-hour epic into a fifth set?

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 6-5 Nadal*

Wednesday 1 June 2022 00:01 , Tom Kershaw

A fantastic response from Djokovic, who opens up the game with two terrific winners. And after Nadal had earned a route back into the game, Djokovic controls a brilliant drop volley that just whispers over the net and almost dies on the bounce. Fantastic. A Nadal forehand strays wide and now the Spaniard must hold serve to take this fourth set to a tiebreak.

French Open 2022: *Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 5-5 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:57 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic gestures in frustration after miscuing a groundstroke on the opening point and then can only watch helplessly as Nadal crushes a forehand winner past him. A big serve helps him close out the game and now it’s all about whether Djokovic can respond.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 5-4 Nadal*

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:52 , Tom Kershaw

Now it’s Nadal who has break point but Djokovic fashions a brilliant drop shot. What an exceptional touch under pressure. He can’t replicate it on the following point though and skews a backhand down the line wide. It’s a second break point for Nadal and this time he takes it! A stunning inside-out cross-court forehand leaves Djokovic stuck in his tracks and this set is back on serve and suddenly the momentum is all with Nadal.

French Open 2022: Djokovic (2-6, 6-4, 2-6) *5-3 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:47 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic has to fight tooth and nail for it after being dragged to 30-30 but the Serbian produces a big serve to bring up set point. Nadal refuses to be beaten, though, and fights back to deuce and then saves another set point with a fantastic backhand passing shot.

French Open 2022: Djokovic (2-6, 6-4, 2-6) *5-3 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:43 , Jack Rathborn

French Open 2022: Djokovic *5-3 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:39 , Jack Rathborn

Ruthless from Nadal at the start of this eighth game of the fourth set, 30-0 and the cushion he needs to keep the pressure on Djokovic, despite just one game separating us from a fifth set.

Stunning! One of the best shots of the game, whipped left-handed forehand that barely travels higher than the net, curling around the post and forcing Djokovic to stretch and concede the point.

Nadal completes the hold in style and will now have to break Djokovic’s serve to avoid going the distance.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *4-2 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:32 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal holds to love. The pressure swings back to Djokovic. He’s two holds of serve away from taking this match to a fifth set.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 4-1* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:30 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic was cruising towards a hold of serve at 40-0 but Nadal fights back again. He charges in to reach a cute backhand drop shot, flicks a return over the net and then takes the point with a perfectly executed backhand smash. His efforts are in vain though as Djokovic hurls himself into another huge groundstroke that this time Nadal can’t absorb. The players have already been out on court for 3h 25m and yet somehow they don’t seem exhausted.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 3-0* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:20 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic holds to love. If it was all but destined beforehand that this match would go five sets, it feels inevitable now.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *2-0 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:18 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal’s attempt at a backhand passing shot clips the top of the net and causes Djokovic to frame his volley. He’s furious at that stroke of misfortune and smashes his racket against the net cord. It’s a great display of passion for the viewer at home but the partisan crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier don’t approve of such petulance and they jeer and boo.

Nadal compounds Djokovic’s misery with a deft volley winner of his own to regain ascendancy in the game, but it doesn’t last long as the Serbian produces a signature return. A Nadal forehand then drifts long and it’s break point Djokovic.

Nadal thinks he’s produced an exquisite backhand drop shot, having been pushed so far behind the baseline, but the umpire gets out of his chair to have a look at the line and the ball is called out. Replays show that he was correct. Djokovic has the break at the start of the fourth!

French Open 2022: Djokovic 1-0* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:11 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic makes another double fault at 30-15 and the pressure is immediately on the Serbian at the start of the fourth. He produces a magnificent drop shot though to alleviate that danger and a big serve sets up a driving forehand winner to seal an important hold after fading away at the end of the last set.

French Open 2022: Nadal wins third set

Tuesday 31 May 2022 23:05 , Tom Kershaw

A rollercoaster match stops for another brief moment of respite. Nadal closes out the set without any great difficulty and leads 2-1. But after what we’ve seen so far, surely a rousing Djokovic comeback is a formality?

He made 16 unforced errors in that set, which is very unlike the Serbian.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-5* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:59 , Tom Kershaw

Another patchy game from Djokovic allows Nadal to make a simple hold and ward off the threat of another comeback. Djokovic then quickly holds to love. That has been a very rare occurrence in this epic match.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 1-4* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:55 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal breaks again! He produces a stunning forehand winner down the line to take it to 30-30 and Djokovic double faults. Djokovic’s attempt at a passing shot cross-court then flies long. Nadal is firmly back in control again, but we’ve been here before...

French Open 2022: Djokovic 1-3* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:47 , Tom Kershaw

Mistakes are creeping in a little more now which was probably inevitable, such was the incredible level they were playing at during the opening two sets. Nadal should close out the game at 40-15 but miscues a forehand into the net and suddenly we’re at deuce. Djokovic sprays his return long and is furious with himself but then Nadal double faults!

On the following point, Nadal drags a backhand volley down into the net and the Serbian has a break point. The chance presents itself in the shape of a forehand down the line but the ball clips the top of the net and Djokovic shouts in anger again.

Finally, Nadal holds as Djokovic’s attempt at a drop shot droops into the net.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 1-2* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:38 , Tom Kershaw

One of the very few routine holds of serve in this match for Djokovic. The pressure swings quickly back onto Nadal.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *0-2 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:36 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic’s level has dropped ever so slightly since that surge in the latter half of the previous set. It goes without saying, though, that it is still extremely high and he almost forces a way back into Nadal’s service game. A forehand gets the Spaniard out of danger however and that consolidates the break.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 0-1* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:30 , Tom Kershaw

A perfect start to the third for Nadal as he nails two overheads. It’s 0-40 and he has three break points. He only needs one as Djokovic pushes a forehand long.

French Open 2022: Djokovic wins second set

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:21 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal sends a forehand long and Djokovic wins the second set. That was a mammoth effort from both players but it was the Serbian who made the comeback, having been 3-0 down, in a typically stunning display of resilience.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 5-4* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:19 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal takes a 30-0 lead but is then penned back by two huge forehand winners from Djokovic. Nadal then makes an unforced error on his backhand at a crucial time with Djokovic out of position and the right half of the court gaping. That’s break and set point but Nadal hangs on to win an exchange of groundstrokes from behind the baseline.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 5-4* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:13 , Tom Kershaw

Both players exchange errors in a rare and brief drop in quality at the start of the game. Djokovic then goes back to his supreme, relentless and oppressing level to hold. Nadal will now serve to stay in a second set that has already lasted 78 minutes. The fans on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the night session may only get to watch one game, but they are certainly getting their money’s worth tonight.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *4-4 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:11 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic has the chance to bring up break point at 15-30 but his forehand down the line is weak and allows Nadal to make a clever lob. At 30-30, Nadal executes a great drop shot that draws Djokovic into the net. The Serbian responds with one of his own but Nadal is ready for it and pushes a backhand deep into the court. Djokovic shows almost superhuman agility to somehow reach it but Nadal smashes the flicked return away.

The game still goes to deuce, as now seems a matter of ritual, but Nadal manages to close out the hold.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 4-3* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 22:05 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic finally closes out the game as Nadal’s forehand errs and the match crosses over the two-hour mark. They’ve completed just 15 games so far. Nadal’s engine definitely seems to be tiring faster but although Djokovic has won the last four games in succession, the set is still on serve.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *3-3 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:58 , Tom Kershaw

This next game has a long way to run too. We’re back at deuce, Nadal has just hit an outrageous cross-court forehand winner and we’re almost two hours into the match already. It’s going to be a test of endurance as much as quality.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *3-3 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:51 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic breaks at last! We’re back on serve in the second set. You can never question the depths of Djokovic’s resolve. This match has a long, long way to run.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-3* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:49 , Tom Kershaw

This marathon game is being made even longer by the age Nadal takes before serving, for which he finally receives a warning from the umpire. Nadal has saved five break points so far, the latest a gift after Djokovic’s poor attempt at a drop shot. This game alone has lasted 18 minutes.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-3* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:41 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic throws everything at a huge forehand down the line to win the first point on Nadal’s serve. Then, he drags Nadal around the court before swatting a forehand winner cross-court.

The pressure is on Nadal at 0-30 but he produces a fantastic backhand down the line that looks to be drifting wide but dips and dives in time to clip the white paint. He can’t help being wrong-footed by Djokovic on the next point though and that’s two break points.

A poor backhand wastes the first before Nadal delivers an ace to take the game to deuce. A mammoth rally ensues and it’s Nadal who wins the battle of wills. Djokovic shouts angrily at a fan who blurted something out during the point. It’s so tense, the level is so high, and you get the sense that the match is sitting on a knife-edge in this game.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-3* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:29 , Tom Kershaw

And now a confident hold from Djokovic. Is he managing to turn the tide here? He remains a break down in the set, but this is undoubtedly his best spell in the match so far.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *1-3 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:26 , Tom Kershaw

A chink of light for Djokovic? He breaks back as Nadal’s drop shot falls fractionally short and clips the top of the net.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 0-3* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:19 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic is seemingly in control on his serve at 40-15 but again Nadal comes roaring back and a wonderful backhand winner takes us to deuce. Djokovic then makes an uncharacteristic unforced error on an inside-out forehand to bring up break point. Nadal doesn’t need seven chances this time. He races in to pick up Djokovics drop-shot and flicks it back down the line to break for a second time in this set.

The Spaniard has won nine out of eleven games so far. He is simply on another level right now on the court he’s reigned over for so long.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *0-2 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:14 , Tom Kershaw

Nadal is just a step ahead. Djokovic has the upper hand in the point but Nadal guesses right, reaches down low and drives a flat backhand winner cross-court. Next up, an ace and then one of those trademark curling forehand winners down the line. 40-0 and Djokovic can only frame his return into the crowd.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 0-1* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:10 , Tom Kershaw

He gets the break! At the seventh time of asking. That game lasted 13 minutes alone. Nadal is playing extraordinarily well and Djokovic can only hold back the tide for so long. Even John McEnroe is momentarily lost for words.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *0-0 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:08 , Tom Kershaw

Yet another break point is brought up by a fantastic drop shot from Nadal, who shows such deftness after those bludgeoning forehands. But Djokovic just refuses to be broken, saving a fifth and then a sixth break point of this epic game.

French Open 2022: Djokovic *0-0 Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 21:06 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic is immediately under pressure at the start of the second set. His first double fault of the match is followed by a relentless barrage of Nadal forehands. The Serbian manages to save two break points, relying on his remarkable defence on the latter to somehow keep the ball in play. A third is then saved by a fine backhand winner.

French Open 2022: Nadal wins first set

Tuesday 31 May 2022 20:53 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic fights back and produces a terrific forehand down the line winner. He drags a backhand way wide at 30-30 though to hand Nadal his first set point. He seals it with a big serve and fist pump.

French Open 2022: Djokovic 2-5* Nadal

Tuesday 31 May 2022 20:51 , Tom Kershaw

Djokovic steadies himself with a hold of serve but Nadal will now have the chance to close out the first set.

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