Postpublished at 00:16 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-2 2-6 6-6 Nadal
David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
We've seen this before from Djokovic.
Summary
Rafael Nadal beats defending champion Novak Djokovic in marathon quarter-final
Spanish star wins 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) after thrilling match lasting over four hours
13-time French Open champion clinches victory at 1:16am local time
Earlier Alexander Zverev overcame Carlos Alcaraz to reach semi-finals
American Coco Gauff and Italian Martina Trevisan through to women's last four
Postpublished at 00:16 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Two match points Nadal...published at 00:15 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Two match points.
Arrow of a forehand from Djokovic.
He's saved three. Two left.
Three match points remain...published at 00:14 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Two match points down. Djokovic gets his man on the run and a return has too much on it.
Now it's Nadal to serve.
Three match points...
Match points Nadal...published at 00:13 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Djokovic saves match point one.
Tie-breakpublished at 00:13 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Novak Djokovic is literally battering the ball and Nadal just defends like this is all that matters.
In the end Djoko tries a drop shot... net.
That is 6-1 Nadal.
FIVE MATCH POINTS!
Postpublished at 00:11 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Whatever happens in the coming minutes. These two are just something else. It is proper, proper sport.
Tie-breakpublished at 00:11 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Nadal pushing his man, giving him nothing in this breaker, asking questions that can't be answered.
Djokovic is wide with a cross-court backhand.
Nadal leads 5-1 in the breaker. Two points from a stunning win...
Tie-breakpublished at 00:09 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
1-3 Nadal.
He goes long to give Djokovic a first point of the breaker.
The Serb is then emptying himself on forehands and sends one over the baseline.
4-1 to Nadal.
Tie-breakpublished at 00:08 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
So many twitches from Nadal before he fires his second serve.
A backhand from Novak, returned, a forehand from Novak.... it's there to be hit AND IT IS... Nadal sends it home.
3-0.
'Hostile'published at 00:07 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 LiveIt's become quite a hostile atmosphere now. The crowd are very much in favour of Nadal.
Tie-breakpublished at 00:07 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Serve from Nadal... returned... whipped onto the line by the Spanish bull.
He turns and looks like he's going to fight the clay.
2-0.
Tie-breakpublished at 00:06 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
1-0 Nadal.
He applies pressure consistently and is nearing the net, making Djokovic force a back hand wide.
Tie-breakpublished at 00:05 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-6 Nadal
Nadal 30-0 up on serve. I'm not sure I can take a tie-break now. We're four hours deep lads and lasses.
Serve up the middle.... it's not coming back. Djoko gets a bit on it but we're off to a breaker.
Send help.
When the smart meter stays low...published at 00:03 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 00:02 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-5 Nadal*
Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 LiveThat was a loose game from Rafa. He held his serve well but couldn't get the momentum on the returns. You just don't know what you're going to get with Djokovic. He's been looking to the box a lot so it's difficult to know what vibe he's going to give off.
Postpublished at 00:00 British Summer Time 1 June 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 6-5 Nadal*
Novak Djokovic is 30-0 up and he gets a bit greedy with a forehand from the middle of the court. He's hooked it a fraction wide.
No big deal as he pours his soul into a couple of forehands on the next point and it does the damage to soften up his man, allowing him to step into the net and play a deft drop-volley.
He closes out for the game. That's backbone there as things were turning against him.
Postpublished at 23:58 British Summer Time 31 May 2022
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraI can't advise strongly enough that you hit play at the top of this page.
I know your partner is asleep next to you. But seriously, it will be worth the argument in the morning. Plus, what are they going to do about it by that stage anyway?
Play. It makes sense.
Postpublished at 23:57 British Summer Time 31 May 2022
*Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 5-5 Nadal
A 115mph serve... Djokovic into the net.
All up in the air. Again.
Relentless.
Postpublished at 23:56 British Summer Time 31 May 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 5-4 Nadal*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 LiveDjokovic is looking weary and vulnerable. That backhand has let him down a few times in this match. The crowd is definitely having an impact.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 23:55 British Summer Time 31 May 2022
Djokovic 2-6 6-4 2-6 5-4 Nadal*
There's a guy in the crowd who looks like Michael Sheen. Surely not. He puffs his cheeks as Nadal puts another forehand home. He's sending them down laced in spice all of a sudden and he's 30-0 up on serve.