Today we talk about the Mens Singles Roland Garros 2020 Trophy. The 2020 French Open has now reached its deciding stage with the two best players in the world battling for the trophy. The championship final between 12 time winner Rafael Nadal and the current world number 1 Novak Djokovic promises to be an electrifying one.
Both the players reached this stage after dominating their opponents and producing high quality tennis. While the match is too close to be called for either side, we attempt to dissect the stats and strengths to arrive at a pre-match favourite to finally lift the Mens Singles Roland Garros 2020 Trophy.
Road to the Final
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are both legends on all surfaces and amazingly intense of the red clay. While Rafa has been the most decorated champion at Roland Garros with 99 wins and just 2 losses, Novak also has an excellent track record at the French Open with 73 match wins there.
In this French Open edition, Nadal was deemed to have difficulties due to change of timing on the tournaments, the balls and the different weather but has cruised through to the final without the loss of a single set. The Spanish sensation has lost only 46 games in his 6 matches. He is now booming with confidence for the Mens Singles Roland Garros 2020 Trophy battle.
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The world number 1 Novak Djokovic started the tournament on a highly confident note. He put the default at New York quickly out of his mind to emerge as champion in the Rome Masters. The Serb also cruised through early rounds spending minimal energy but met his first formidable challenge in the quarter-finals at the hands of Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain.
After winning the quarter-final match, Djokovic was involved in an energy zipping semi-final contest with the rising Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas who threatened a massive upset after being 2 sets down. The Serb has thus lost 3 sets and 59 games on his road to the 5th Roland Garros final, the Mens Singles Roland Garros 2020 Trophy clash.
The Past History
Rafa and Novak enjoy one of the greatest rivalries in the history of men’s tennis. The two champions have met each other 55 times with Djokovic taking 29 victories in comparison to Nadal’s 26. On clay however it is a different story with the Spaniard leading with 17 wins and 7 defeats to the Serb. The two have met each other 7 times at Roland Garros with Rafa Nadal taking home 6 victories in comparison to Novak Djokovic’s 1 win.
The Serb won his lone match in Paris against the Spaniard in the 2015 quarter-final when Nadal was a shadow of himself. The 12 time champion was having the worst year of his career, suffering with loss of form and fitness.
In Grand Slams these two legendary champions have met each other 15 times and Rafa leads this important stat with 9 wins and 6 losses. The great rivalry has also seen 8 major finals, where both have won 4 each. At Philippe Chatrier they have contested in 2 finals, one each in 2012 and 2014 with Nadal winning both of them in 4 sets. Thus there is a lot of past history and future records involved when the two greats take on court for the Mens Singles Roland Garros 2020 Trophy clash. The match was predicted by most experts as the final and has all the spice to be an epic encounter.
Records and Predictions
The French Open final holds immense historical significance for both these players. One more win in Paris will give Rafael Nadal a record extending 13th Roland Garros trophy. He will also be able to match the record of 20 Grand Slam singles trophies set by the Swiss great Roger Federer. For Novak Djokovic this match carries its own historical weight. The Serb great could win his 2nd trophy in Paris and become the only male player in the Open Era with a double career Grand Slam. He could also take his own count of major championships to 18 and thus close the great gap with Federer and Nadal. The Slams are undoubtedly the greatest indicator of the tennis GOAT race and debate.
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When Rafa and Novak take the court on any surface, at any tournament it is almost impossible to predict the winner. The two greats have given tennis fans enthralling contests including the longest Grand Slam final. While both champions are in great shape and form, we predict Rafael Nadal to sail through the match but not without supreme fight and resistance from Novak Djokovic. The King of Clay will face his toughest opponent but being at his favourite tournament and his beloved surface is expected to come out victorious. He will win his 20th Slam and thus tie the record with another long time rival Roger Federer.
Our Prediction – Rafael Nadal wins the match in 4 intense sets.
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