Rafa Nadal understands it will be a "big challenge" to beat Novak Djokovic

Rafa Nadal understands it will be a “big challenge” to beat Novak Djokovic. 

Rafa Nadal knows that beating Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Tuesday will be a “big challenge” for him.

But the 13-time winner has vowed not to back down from a fight against the world number one.

Before losing to Djokovic in the semi-finals of last year’s tournament, Nadal had won the French Open for four years.

It was only the third time since 2005 that he had lost at a clay-court major.

That was also the last of the pair’s 58 matches against each other, and Djokovic has looked great at this year’s tournament, where he hasn’t lost a set in the four rounds he’s played.

When asked what he had to do to beat Djokovic in his next match, Nadal said: “I don’t know for sure because we haven’t played a close game in a long time. Our last match was here last year.

“I haven’t played a match like this in the last three months, so it will be a big challenge for me,” he said after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller. Auger-Aliassime was the ninth seed from Canada.

“He (Djokovic) will probably feel good about himself. I know how things are, and I’m fine with it. I’ll fight hard for it.”

Nadal is a well-known Real Madrid fan. He went to his first Champions League final at the Stade de France in northern Paris on Saturday. He was happy to see Real Madrid win their 14th European title.

But he didn’t join the party because he didn’t want to go to bed too late.

Nadal and Djokovic got ready for the clay-court major in Paris differently.

The Serb looked like he was in great shape when he won in Rome. Still, Nadal was having trouble with his foot and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters and to Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the Rome Masters.

On Friday, Nadal, who turns 36, said, “I don’t have much to complain about.” “I’m in the last eight of Roland Garros. Two and a half weeks ago… I didn’t even know if I’d be able to come.

“And if I’m being honest, I don’t know if any of the matches I play here will be my last in my tennis career. So that’s where I am right now.

“I’m just trying to have as much fun as I can and fight as hard as possible to keep living my dream, which is to keep playing tennis and be back in a very advanced round of Roland Garros playing against the world number one.

“I hope to get a chance to play at the highest level possible, and then we’ll see what happens.”