Rafa Nadal (Manacor, 34 years old) will play his 28th Grand Slam final in Paris on Sunday (3pm, DMAX and Eurosport). The king of clay will have the opportunity to add his thirteenth Roland Garros, no one in history has more. Opposite, once again, the Serbian Novak Djokovic (Belgrade, 33 years old). The world number one suffered a great deal to beat the Greek Tsitsipas in five sets. It will be the third time they meet in the final of the French tournament and in the previous two the Spanish tennis player emerged victorious. In 2012, in the Serbian's first final in Paris (6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5) and in 2014, when Nadal once again left Djokovic with honey on his lips (3–6, 7–5, 6-2, 6–4). On Sunday they will meet for the 9th time in a Grand Slam final and the balance between the two cannot be more equal: four finals for each.
The Balkan tennis player will take Philippe Chatrier to center court for the fifth time in a final, in which he would compete for his second Musketeers Cup. He already won the legendary trophy in 2016 against Britain's Andy Murray (3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4), taking off the pain of the defeat suffered a year earlier against the Swiss Stan Wawrinka. Rafa reaches his fourth consecutive final in Paris and is one step away from achieving his 100th victory. It is the sixth time that Nadal reaches the final of the tournament without losing a set (the others were in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2017) and we already know the result. Nadal, winner.
Djokovic dominates Nadal in direct duels
The clay is the territory of Nadal that clearly subdues the Serbian. 17 games beaten by 7 for Djokovic. The balance at Roland Garros is even more favorable to the Spanish tennis player who dominates the Balkan 6-1, although the last time they met in the French tournament, Djokovic eliminated the Spanish on the fast track in the quarterfinals (7-5, 6-3, 6-1, at Roland Garros 2015).
Grand Slam Finals
| Year | Tournament | Victor | Outcome |
| 2010 | US Open | Nadal | 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2011 | Wimbledon | Djokovic | 6–4, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3 |
| 2011 | US Open | Djokovic | 6–2, 6–4, 6–7 (3), 6–1 |
| 2012 | Open Australia | Djokovic | 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7 (5), 7–5 |
| 2012 | Roland Garros | Nadal | 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
| 2013 | US Open | Nadal | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 2014 | Roland Garros | Nadal | 3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2018 | Open Australia | Djokovic | 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 |
It will be the 56th duel between the two tennis players with a slight advantage for Djokovic, who has won 29 times, 26 for the Spaniard. It's the great fight in tennis today, with permission from Roger Federer, and the most repeated duel (Djokovic-Federer have met 50 times). Far is the year 2006 when precisely the slopes of the Bolonia Forest saw the first duel between the two (quarter-finals and withdrawal of the Belgrade in the third set). The summit fight that has dominated tennis in the last decade and that will have a new chapter on Sunday in Paris, the final number 27 between the two tennis players. The balance in tournament finals is slightly better for Djokovic than for Nadal: 15-11. However, in Grand Slam matches Nadal always brings out his competitive gene and grows: 9-6 for the Manacori against the Serbian.
Djokovic, alongside Nadal in the 2014 final.
PATRICK KOVARIK (AFP)
Federer's 20 majors, shot
The historical hegemony of tennis is also at stake, since Rafa Nadal to beat Djokovic in Paris would reach Roger Federer at the top as the tennis players with the most Grand Slam in history. Now the Swiss has 20, by Nadal's 19 and Djokovic's 17. A triumph for the Serbian would further tighten the dispute for being the best tennis player in history. In total count of titles, Nadal adds 85 to 81 of Djokovic.
The last time a Nadal-Djokovic could be enjoyed was in January this year in the revamped final of the ATP Cup. There was a victory for Djokovic on hard court over Nadal: 6-2 and 7-6 (5), which marked the final victory of Serbia over Spain. Djokovic is poised to knock Nadal down at 'home' and delay his 100th win on French clay.