Djokovic sets up French semifinal clash with Nadal

By Agencies On Jun 11, 2021

Paris: Serbia's Novak Djokovic stretches to return the ball to Italy's Matteo Berrettini during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Paris.AP/PTI Photo(AP06_10_2021_000004B)

Paris, June 10: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic set up a semi-final clash with old rival Rafael Nadal after he defeated big-hitting Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 in a three-hour-28-minute quarter-final here at the Roland Garros late on Wednesday night.
Djokovic overcame a cut in his left hand that saw his racquet dripping with blood immediately after the crowd had been cleared from the stands in the fourth set due to 11pm night curfew in Paris.
Djokovic, who became only the second player after Roger Federer (46) to reach Grand Slam semi-finals on 40 occasions with Wednesday night’s win, needed a few games to get into rhythm against the Italian.
Djokovic and Nadal’s semi-final clash will be a rematch of last year’s final. Djokovic leads Nadal 29-28 in head-to-head, but the Spaniard is better on clay with a 19-7 record. (IANS)