Nadal says ‘I haven’t won anything yet’ and warns ‘too late’ to play

Rafael Nadal insisted he nonetheless has operate to do to gain a 14th French Open irrespective of knocking out Novak Djokovic and explained it was “too late” to be taking part in following their quarter-ultimate ended in the early several hours of Wednesday.

The Spaniard is continue to on monitor for a file-extending 22nd men’s Grand Slam title and will deal with third seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals on his 36th birthday on Friday.

Nadal took his head-to-head versus defending champion Djokovic at Roland Garros to 8-2 with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) acquire which concluded after 1:00 am regional time.

“In the conclude it has been a quite emotional evening for me,” claimed Nadal. “I’m nonetheless playing for evenings like now.

“But it is just a quarter-finals match? So I didn’t win anything. I just give myself a possibility to be again on court in two times. Playing an additional semi-remaining in this article in Roland Garros usually means a large amount to me.”

The match ended in interesting ailments less than the Court docket Philippe Chatrier lights, with lots of admirers covering them selves in blankets as the match stretched from May possibly into June.

“It was a extremely psychological evening”

— @RafaelNadal on his 4-established gain around Novak Djokovic:#RolandGarros

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2022

“It is as well late, devoid of a question,” explained Nadal who experienced requested not to enjoy in the evening session.

“I just can’t complain due to the fact we have two days off now, but if you only have one particular working day off, or like Zverev had in Madrid, when he had to enjoy the last the subsequent day, then it’s a large issue.

“I fully grasp the other section of the small business, with out a question, that tv pays a great deal of money…

“We will need to obtain a equilibrium.”

Nadal, who won the Australian Open earlier this 12 months, has struggled in modern months with a long-term foot personal injury.

He said ahead of his match with Djokovic that it could probably be his past on the Paris clay.

“I never know what can materialize,” he admitted. “As I said just before, I’m gonna be participating in this event simply because we are carrying out the issues to be ready to perform this event, but I really do not know what is gonna transpire right after right here.

“I have what I have there in the foot, so if we are not in a position to find an improvement or a compact solution for that, then it’s turning out to be super tough for me.

“So that’s it. I am just savoring each day that I have the chance to be right here, and with out considering a lot about what can transpire in the future.”

Nadal will go two clear of Djokovic and Roger Federer on the all-time record of most men’s main titles if he lifts the trophy again on Sunday.

But he performed down the significance of the struggle among the ‘big three’.

“From my perspective it doesn’t subject that significantly. We achieved our desires. We make heritage in this activity simply because we did factors that did not take place in advance of.”

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