HM 13 JUNE Page 11.Qxd

THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q SUNDAY Q JUNE 13, 2021 11 Djokovic topples Nadal in French India's white-ball squad to have Open semi-final classic 14-day quarantine in Mumbai, match Nadal's record at Roland Garros since winning the title on his debut in 2005 now stands at 105-3 simulation ahead of Lanka games PARIS, JUNE 12: No- year's final in which Nadal NEW DELHI, JUNE 12: India's vak Djokovic came from a won the first set 6-0 flooded white ball squad, led by Shikhar set down in a spellbinding back. Dhawan, will quarantine in Mumbai French Open semi-final to Djokovic did not flinch, from June 14 to 28 and undergo six inflict only a third ever de- clawing back three games RT-PCR tests on alternate days before feat on the Parisian clay for before Nadal took an hour- flying off to Colombo for the six-match Rafa Nadal, moving long opener on his sixth set series against Sri Lanka, starting on through 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2 point. July 13. in front of mesmerised Though trailing, the 34- It is understood that all the Standard crowd on Friday. year-old Djokovic had es- Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will The two warriors pro- tablished a foothold in the be followed by the Lanka-bound squad duced superhuman tennis red dirt and shifted the mo- will be the same as those of the first as the 58th duel between mentum, breaking serve team currently in the United Kingdom them arguably rivalled any- twice to take the second set. for the World Test Championship fi- thing they had conjured Unbelievably, the ferocity nal and five-match series against Eng- against each other since Djokovic, looking fresh de- "First I want to say it is a of the tennis increased in spite slugging it out for four privilege to be on this court land. "All the rules will be the same, as they first locked horns in the third set as the players we followed in England. The outsta- 2006. hours with the world's with Rafael Nadal," wrestled for control in rally greatest ever claycourter, Djokovic said on court. tion players will come by charter flight Nadal, bidding for a after brilliant rally. and some fly business class of com- record-extending 14th ruthlessly closed in. "The biggest match I have Djokovic began to turn mercial airline," a BCCI source privy starts on July 13, it is expected that the training will be held. French Open title, won the After breaking a tiring ever played here in Paris. the screws and jogged to his to development told PTI on conditions Indian team will have match simula- "You can't have your main players first five games and looked Nadal's serve for a 4-2 lead Also the best match with the chair after breaking serve at of anonymity. tion practice (situational training) after get out off the first ball and not bat on course to repeat his in the fourth set, the end best atmosphere for both 2-2 when Nadal netted a "They will do seven days of room individual sessions, following three again or bat for the whole innings. drubbing of the Serb in last came quickly as the Serb in- players. dropshot. quarantine and then can meet in com- days of room quarantine at the team Everyone needs training, so it won't be year's final. flicted a first defeat on The win against Rafa on It was the first time mon areas inside the bio-bubble. The hotel in Colombo. practice games as such," the source But world number one Nadal at the French Open this court you have to play Djokovic had been in front players will do gym sessions in stag- "It will be just like what's happening said. The Indian teams over the years Djokovic seized the mo- since he beat him in the your best tennis, and but Nadal hit back immedi- gered manner." in England. Match situations will be have always stayed at the Taj Samudra mentum, winning the sec- 2015 quarter-final. tonight I played my best ately to break back with a While the three-match ODI series created and that's how the intra-squad Hotel in Colombo. ond set and then edging a Nadal's record at Roland tennis." Nadal, whose only forehand winner only to pulsating 97-minute third Garros since winning the ti- other defeat apart from the drop serve again as set on a tiebreak, having tle on his debut in 2005 one to Djokovic came Djokovic moved 5-3 ahead. saved a set point. now stands at 105-3. against Swede Robin Soder- With chants of "Rafa, When I am sad, I watch Messi’s videos The soccer-style atmos- Djokovic will play ling in 2009 when he was Rafa" and "Nole, Nole" fill- phere created by a crowd of Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas suffering knee issues, was ing the night air, the match around 5,000 inside Court in Sunday's final with the typically gracious in defeat. took another twist as Nadal chance to not only add to "Well done for him. It was and it makes me happy: Chhetri Philippe Chatrier reached a found another gear to hit crescendo towards the end his 2016 French Open title a good fight out there. I back and lead 6-5 and cre- DOHA, JUNE 12: Li- Bhaichung da. I was telling of the third set as the Paris but also move to 19 Grand tried my best, and today ate a set point which onel Messi’s mesmerising him how I miss the old COVID-19 curfew loomed. Slam titles, just one behind was not my day," Nadal told Djokovic saved with am runs on a football pitch can camp, purely because now I Thankfully, the Parisian the men's record 20 held by reporters. outrageous dropshot. make a sad Sunil Chhetri don’t hang out with anyone. authorities, reportedly after Nadal and Roger Federer. Any doubt that the duo's In the tiebreak Nadal happy, the talismanic India I’m in my room only. a request from French pres- Djokovic now leads his 17th meeting in a Grand double-faulted then had his captain said on Saturday, “I learnt a lot from him. ident Emmanuel Macron, series with Nadal 30-28 but Slam would live up to pre- head in his hands after fluff- and made it clear that com- He was relentless in the way granted an exemption to this win was perhaps the match hype was erased dur- ing a volley to hand paring him with the Argen- he approached a game. His the 11pm cut-off, meaning a sweetest. While in 2015 his ing a sensational opening Djokovic a 5-3 lead. tine virtuoso is akin to liv- mentality was bulletproof. magnificent and brutal con- straight sets win was aster- game which saw Nadal save Djokovic banged down an ing in a “stupid cocoon”. He was at it, every game. test continued to be graced isked by the fact Nadal was break points before holding ace and duly took the set. The 36-year-old Chhetri The first challenge, the first by a live audience. struggling to recover from serve after eight electrifying With the crowd allowed has more than once tackle was always But there was no reprieve injuries, this time both play- minutes. to stay, Nadal was re-ener- brushed aside any compari- Bhaichung da. for the 35-year-old Nadal as ers were at their best. The Spaniard then went gised at the start of the son with Messi whom he To fight for lost causes His celebrations were 5-0 ahead and Djokovic's has overtaken to be the sec- was always Bhaichung da. his seemingly inexhaustible fourth, taking a 2-0 lead, I am just happy that I get an Chhetri came to the scene in low-key, however, such is fans might have been ex- ond highest international And when as a senior you resolve was finally broken. but Djokovic clicked into opportunity to score for my the national team, there the respect he holds for cused for covering their goal-scorer among active saw that our captain, the He hung on like the gear and reeled off the final country and I feel proud. were stalwarts like Nadal. eyes as the memory of last players. most senior guy was work- champion he is but six games. “(But) I don’t get into the Bhaichung Bhutia, Renedy “When I am sad, I watch ing so hard, it rubbed on us. stupid cocoon of comparing Singh and Mahesh Gawli. Messi’s videos and it makes There’s nobody better than myself with all those great Now, at 36, he is the senior- me happy, so when I meet Bhaichung da.” Chhetri Real Kashmir FC coach Robertson honoured with players. There are thou- most player and he some- him, I will tell him I am a said his competitive spirit sands of players who are times feels lonely among fan (of him), give him a nice came mostly from his better than me, and all of the “kids”. handshake, and that is mother, a former Nepal in- British Empire Medal for his football work in valley them are also fans of Lionel “... (it feels like) just yes- about it,” Chhetri said in an ternational footballer, who "Manager, Real Kashmir time the team has com- son told PTI from his home Messi.

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