Novak could face Rafa in semis
KEEN Nadal chases a 10th French title, Djokovic seeks to defend the only Major he still holds
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and nine-time winner Rafael Nadal were drawn to face each other in a blockbuster French Open semifinal on Friday. Nadal is chasing a 10th title at Roland Garros while second seed Djokovic is looking to defend the only major he still holds.
World number one Andy Murray is seeded to face 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in the last four. Murray starts against Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov, Djokovic tackles Spanish clay courter Marcel Granollers while Nadal meets Frenchman Benoit Paire.
If the seedings work out, 2016 runner-up Murray would face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the last eight.
The other quarterfinals would see Wawrinka meet 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, Nadal would meet Canada’s Milos Raonic while Djokovic could take on Dominic Thiem.
Djokovic demolished highlyregarded Austrian Thiem for the loss of just one game in the Rome Masters semifinals last week.
The 30-year-old Nadal has already reached the magical 10 titles number this year at the claycourt events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
He also won Madrid for a fifth time, ending a seven-match losing streak, stretching back over two years against Djokovic in the process.
Nadal boasts a sensational career record at Roland Garros — 72 wins and just two defeats, to Djokovic in 2015 and an injury-affected shock loss to Robin Soderling in 2009.
In the women’s draw, top seed Angelique Kerber starts against experienced Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the first round.
Kerber is due to face defending champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the semifinals.
“I am super-excited to be here. I am preparing the best I can but there is no magic pattern,” said Muguruza who comes into the tournament having suffered a neck injury in Rome last week.
Muguruza has a tough opener against former champion Francesca Schiavone.
Second seed Karolina Plisova was drawn to face 2014 runner-up Simona Halep in the semifinals but will start against Zheng Saisai of China. Halep has an ankle injury and described her chances of making Roland Garros as “50-50” earlier this week. 20-6
12 - French (’16), Australian (’08, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘15, ‘16), Wimbledon (’11, ‘14, ‘15), U.S. Open (’11, ‘15)
36-6
14 - French Open (’05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14),Wimbledon(’08,‘10),U.S. Open (’10, ‘13), Australian Open (’09)