PARIS — A year ago in the French Open semifinals, Roger Federer put a stop to Novak Djokovic’s 43-match winning streak.
That also was the last time Djokovic lost at any Grand Slam tournament.
When the two men meet at the same stage at Roland Garros today, 16-time major champion Federer once again stands in Djokovic’s way, with even more at stake. This time, Djokovic will be seeking a 27th consecutive major match victory, which would leave him one shy of becoming the first man in 43 years to win four Grand Slam titles in a row.
“I will try to be out there believing I can win,” said the No. 1-ranked Djokovic, who won Wimbledon in July, the U.S. Open in September, and the Australian Open in January. “There is no [real] favorite.”
The other semifinal today features someone else pursuing history: No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who faces No. 6 David Ferrer, is hoping to earn a record seventh French Open trophy, which would break a tie with Bjorn Borg.
Nadal is 50-1 at Roland Garros, the only loss coming in the fourth round in 2009 against Robin Soderling.
“How discouraging is it to play Nadal on this surface? … When Borg played, in my day, he was like the human backboard. He was faster than everyone, fitter than everyone, and you couldn’t get a ball by the guy,” said seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe, whose rivalry with Borg is among the best.
Nadal has won all 15 sets he has played in Paris this year.
He’s won 60 of his 61 service games, saving 16 of 17 break points.
Djokovic and Federer have participated in more thrilling matches lately.
In 2011 at the French Open, Djokovic was unbeaten, and looking rather unbeatable, until a four-set thriller against Federer, whose 18th ace ended their semifinal as dusk was descending. “If he was able to win four in a row? Man, I’d take four in a row any day. It’s not technically the ‘Grand Slam,’ ’’ McEnroe said, “but I’d come up with some statue or something that said I had four in a row, and I’d be parading it around my house for the rest of my life.”— AP
Fast-forward to his French Open quarterfinal this week, and Djokovic pulled off an amazing escape, saving four match points en route to beating No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
Some point out that Djokovic wouldn’t have a true Grand Slam, because his wins would be spread across two seasons.
It would be quite impressive nonetheless, though.