Rafael Nadal continued to build momentum at the French Open as he moved into the fourth round by easing past Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. In the process, Nadal set up a notable encounter against Félix Auger-Aliassime, the ninth seed, who coolly navigated three tight sets to beat Filip Krajinovic 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), 7-5.
Since last April, as he has risen up the rankings to become a top 10 player, Auger-Aliassime has been working closely with Nadal’s uncle, Toni, who was the Spaniard’s primary coach from his childhood until 2017, and played a defining role in so much of his success. Toni Nadal remains the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy, meaning he is essentially employed by both players.
Asked in his post-match press conference whether or not he would talk to his uncle in the build-up to his match with Auger-Aliassime, Nadal responded, to widespread amusement, by noting that they had already spoken in the short window after his match.
“He’s my uncle,” said Nadal, shrugging. “I don’t think he will be able to want me to lose, without a doubt, but he’s a professional and he’s with another player. I don’t know what’s gonna happen, if he’s gonna stay in the box or not, but I don’t care. I have zero problem with that. So it’s not a story at all for me. I know what’s the feelings that we have between each other.”
Toni, for his part, has said that he will sit out the match rather than provide Auger-Aliassime with advice to defeat his nephew: “If we have to play with Rafa, I will not be on either of the two benches out of respect for both players and because I’m still the director of the [Rafa Nadal] Academy, I’m still working for him and I’m Rafael’s uncle,” he said, according to Marca.
Auger-Aliassime’s press conference was naturally dominated by questions about Toni Nadal’s decision to recuse himself from the match, which the Canadian shrugged off by pointing out that Nadal’s career is greater than this one encounter.
“I don’t know how Toni feels,” he said. “Maybe we should ask him, but he hasn’t talked to me about it. But I think also you have to remember, because I know this question is going to come quite a lot, I just want to say that, you know, for me, like, Rafa’s career and what he did with Toni is much bigger than the match tomorrow.”
Nadal and Novak Djokovic are now one win each away from facing each other in the French Open quarter-finals as Djokovic also advanced to the fourth round with an uneventful straight-sets victory on Friday.
On Court Philippe Chatrier, just before Nadal finished his match on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Djokovic calmly brushed aside Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the fourth round. Both Djokovic and Nadal are yet to drop a set in Paris but they will both meet tougher opposition in the fourth round in the form of top 15 seeds. Djokovic will face the 15th seed Diego Schwartzman, the 2020 semi-finalist, who dismantled Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
In his press conference, Djokovic was asked about whether Australia’s new government could have a positive effect on his prospects of playing in Australia again. “I don’t know anything about whether my visa is going to be reinstated or whether I’m going to be allowed to come back to Australia,” said Djokovic. “I would like to. I would like to go there and play Australian Open. I don’t hold any grudges. Look, it was what it was.”
Late on Friday last night, British number one Cameron Norrie, the 10th seed, was unable to advance to his first career grand slam fourth round as he lost 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 to 21st seed Karen Khachanov. Norrie trailed by a break in the third set before forcing a fourth set, but he was ultimately undone by his 59 unforced errors and 1/10 break points won in the first two sets. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz continued his march through the draw as he reached the fourth round of the French Open with a routine 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over Sebastian Korda.
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