Coach Carlos Moya acknowledged that Rafael Nadal has credit at the French Open and that his requests should be listened to but added the Nadal team accepts the tournament’s decision to schedule his quarterfinal match for night session.
Last week, Nadal admitted he does not like playing at night at Roland Garros and he wanted his quarterfinal match versus Djokovic to be scheduled for day session.
On Sunday, Nadal overcame Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets to reach the French Open quarterfinal.
On the other side, Djokovic beat Diego Schwartzman in three sets to make the last-eight in Paris.
On Monday, the French Open organizers announced the Nadal and Djokovic match was scheduled for Tuesday, 8:45pm local time.
“I would not speak of lack of respect. Here at Roland-Garros, Rafa has credit, he has won the tournament thirteen times and if he has a request you should listen to him. He is part of the history of Roland-Garros, we know that no one is greater than Roland-Garros, no one is bigger than the Grand Slam tournaments, but in the end it’s about business and we understand,” Moya told RMC Sport.
Nadal aims to avoid back-to-back losses versus Djokovic
“I don’t like night sessions on clay. I don’t like to play on clay during the night, because the humidity is higher, the ball is slower, and there can be very heavy conditions especially when it’s cold,” Nadal said. “I think that makes a big difference between the way tennis is played on clay during the night and during the day.”
Last year, Nadal was beaten by Djokovic in the French Open semifinal.
A bit surprisingly, Nadal and Djokovic haven’t had any meetings since.
In 2021, Djokovic defeated Nadal en route to winning his second French Open title.
This year, Djokovic is set to meet Nadal again at Roland Garros and he will again have to beat record 13-time French Open champion if he wants to win it all at the tournament.