Tennis legend: "We all know Novak loves it when audience is against him, he and Alcaraz are most impressive"

Photo: Profimedia/AFP/MARWAN NAAMANI

Former Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis came to Paris to play "the tournament of legends" at the French Open, but he will certainly try to watch the match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam this evening.

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"I think that both Djokovic and Nadal have mastered it very well to control their emotions, and I don't believe that this match will be decided by emotions - nor that it will have a special emotional charge. First of all, I see it as a clash of gladiators, great fighters - and certainly one of the best matches of the tournament, as almost all of their matches are. They will push themselves to the limit, and it will be simply fascinating to watch it all. It is expected that the audience will be more emotionally inclined towards Rafa, but we all know that Novak likes it when the audience is against him - which is a very interesting and exciting mix. And whether the audience will eventually soften a little towards Novak in case he wins convincingly - I really don't know, we'll see soon enough," says the Cypriot ace.

Which player has impressed you the most so far?

"In my opinion, it would be Alcaraz and Djokovic - who have beated all their opponents convincingly so far. I would single out Novak because he has not lost a single set so far, and it's clear that he is very motivated and eager to win this tournament. It's great to see him compete in a Grand Slam again, and how dedicated he is to achieving his goal."

What is it that Novak should do tactically to beat Rafa in the upcoming match?

"That is something that only Novak and his team know, and the fact is that he was the winner in their last match right here last year."

What is you comment regarding the defeat suffered by Tsitsipas?

"This is a painful defeat for him, in any case. He really didn't play well in the previous matches in this tournament, and I hope he will learn a lesson from this experience. By the way, Stefanos had a very solid season on clay, but this was simply not his week, and that also happens in tennis. On the other hand, Rune played a great match, and nothing can be taken away from him."

Photo: AP/Tanjug

There has been a lot of talk about whether it is justified to schedule some matches during the day and others for the evening. Do you think that this will really affect the outcome of Djokovic vs. Nadal?

"In principle, I think it is more favorable for Novak when the match is played in the evening, because the court is a bit slower and the bounce of the ball is lower - but that is the decision of organizers, and there is nothing to add to that."

Will you watch the match from the stands, and who will you support - and who will your wife support?

"I will try to be there, because I expect the atmosphere to be amazing - since this is one of the most important matches in the last two decades, and maybe even longer. It's difficult for me to say who I will support, and it's best to ask my wife (who is from Slovenia) yourself."

Will this match be one of the most important in the history of tennis?

"This match is without a doubt extremely important, interesting and has a touch of history - but I would not say that it is decisive in the sport's history - at least because I believe that we will watch Nadal and Djokovic in Paris for another two or three years. That's why I would not say big words on this occasion - because I expect that we will watch the two of them on the tour in the future," concluded Baghdatis.

(Telegraf.rs)