We are used to seeing Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic face off at Roland Garros, but perhaps not this early. The two rivals battle in quarterfinal action, highlighting Wednesday’s schedule at the 2015 French Open.
French Open 2015: TV schedule and matches for Wednesday at Roland Garros
Nadal is 23-20 all-time against Djokovic, including 6-0 at the French Open.
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Nadal has ruled the clay courts for a decade, winning nine of the last 10 French Open singles titles, including each of the last five. He beat Djokovic in the final in both 2012 and 2014. Nadal also beat Djokovic in the semifinal round in 2007, 2008 and 2013, all on his way to grand slam titles.
Wednesday's Big Match
Wednesday marks the earliest time they will meet since their first meeting at the French Open -- in the quarterfinal round in 2006, also won by Nadal, who is 6-0 lifetime against Djokovic at Rolland Garros.
This year, Djokovic is ranked No. 1 and carries a 26-match winning streak into the quarterfinal round. He hasn’t lost a set in four matches this year at Roland Garros, and made quick work of No. 20 Richard Gasquet (6-1, 6-2, 6-3) in the fourth round.
Nadal, seeded No. 6, dropped one set in his four wins in this tournament, in a fourth-round win over Jack Sock. Nadal says he’s the underdog on Wednesday.
“He’s the best player of the world, without any doubt, today. Very dominant,” Nadal said, per the Associated Press. “Probably everybody’s with me that probably he is the favorite here.”
But Djokovic-Nadal isn’t the only big matchup on Wednesday. No. 3 seed Andy Murray will face No. 7 David Ferrer in the other men’s quarterfinal match scheduled for Wednesday.
On the women’s side, top-seeded Serena Williams -- a winner of the French Open in 1999 and 2010 -- takes on No. 17 Sara Errani, who ousted No. 10 Andrea Petkovic in the third round. The other women’s quarterfinal on Wednesday features No. 23 Timea Bacsinszky facing Ailson Van Uytvanck. Bacsinszky took out No. 4 Petra Kvitova in the fourth round.
ESPN2 will provide coverage from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, with ESPN3 and WatchESPN starting coverage at 5 a.m.
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