![Dominic Thiem (R) congratulates winner Diego Schwartzman at the end of their
quarter-final. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IWH4S3D2NCVKCLBUYUPCBCFEJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3c1f78a6b59b0fbeff6f77f11eb1ddbe269859b17124731517c454a3f2a4193&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Jannik Sinner of Italy in their French Open quarter-final. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XXMKUO7OTINCQXLLBNHFAYD67E.jpg?smart=true&auth=91726cfac62f6bfe1bdd6e7bfd081e33f5b9f549d5abc09afeac37d6fbfd30f9&width=400&height=225)
![Spectators show their support for Rafael Nadal in the falling temperatures. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7YFKBBEWPAP3OCEV2FVJOAMTZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6fdc0c331522b799d93a914ff1967996782aaaa94b906acc09c7738bc2ea76dc&width=400&height=225)
![Nadal leaves the court after his win. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDRCBE2Q7NSBVYAKFS5W6WRBT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=25ea391bd193da9be479ed894ccab2668be9357d2e7d3441df1dd79b94dfcd29&width=400&height=225)
![Italy's Jannik Sinner congratulates Rafael Nadal. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63VIZB4FMTYQC6BQ6XP6JHVJNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=31a2f0e3ad84b8602a433a291126b4ada9ab159451e6245db9f7a31212fa80d9&width=400&height=225)
![Italy's Jannik Sinner leaves the court at the end of the match. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GD3CRB4RIULAFNHD6XHV23XK2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=d85db29a76a931ac9609e2d2636c07c0b32d8309f291aaca4f0b3c563ddd10c5&width=400&height=225)
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![Rafael Nadal on his way to beating Italy's Jannik Sinner. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EPXRHWNOF3EXFOALK2KZCK2K4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=6629c82619b807c8b623edf517ae1c89d1f0e98eddb34bb4e1114b511abe15d0&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal the ultimate clay court player. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SLEI6QWTDWLECJGOIYY5XD7F64.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b1dcdb4456a84f725223f87ca1bb2a9bcfc8ca6b219c4047f4dd1d428009d28&width=400&height=225)
![Argentina's Diego Schwartzman celebrates after winning his quarter-final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NBX3XYMT4QNPFX5DAI3AHEIGKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a663962d0ed34fc5eb633233d89882be35931799441e63ec5217c5db69a0e19d&width=400&height=225)
![Dominic Thiem (R) congratulates winner Diego Schwartzman at the end of their
quarter-final. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IWH4S3D2NCVKCLBUYUPCBCFEJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3c1f78a6b59b0fbeff6f77f11eb1ddbe269859b17124731517c454a3f2a4193&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Jannik Sinner of Italy in their French Open quarter-final. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XXMKUO7OTINCQXLLBNHFAYD67E.jpg?smart=true&auth=91726cfac62f6bfe1bdd6e7bfd081e33f5b9f549d5abc09afeac37d6fbfd30f9&width=400&height=225)
![Spectators show their support for Rafael Nadal in the falling temperatures. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7YFKBBEWPAP3OCEV2FVJOAMTZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6fdc0c331522b799d93a914ff1967996782aaaa94b906acc09c7738bc2ea76dc&width=400&height=225)
![Nadal leaves the court after his win. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDRCBE2Q7NSBVYAKFS5W6WRBT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=25ea391bd193da9be479ed894ccab2668be9357d2e7d3441df1dd79b94dfcd29&width=400&height=225)
![Italy's Jannik Sinner congratulates Rafael Nadal. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63VIZB4FMTYQC6BQ6XP6JHVJNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=31a2f0e3ad84b8602a433a291126b4ada9ab159451e6245db9f7a31212fa80d9&width=400&height=225)
![Italy's Jannik Sinner leaves the court at the end of the match. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GD3CRB4RIULAFNHD6XHV23XK2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=d85db29a76a931ac9609e2d2636c07c0b32d8309f291aaca4f0b3c563ddd10c5&width=400&height=225)
![Supporters of Spain's Rafael Nadal. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KIPT42UGQ4WGTYZG7CIJDTXIKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=45bb45678c35b47494b867b990542bd9fabf6d2bc6f82320326152a1dff95bb6&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal on his way to beating Italy's Jannik Sinner. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EPXRHWNOF3EXFOALK2KZCK2K4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=6629c82619b807c8b623edf517ae1c89d1f0e98eddb34bb4e1114b511abe15d0&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal the ultimate clay court player. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SLEI6QWTDWLECJGOIYY5XD7F64.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b1dcdb4456a84f725223f87ca1bb2a9bcfc8ca6b219c4047f4dd1d428009d28&width=400&height=225)
![Argentina's Diego Schwartzman celebrates after winning his quarter-final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NBX3XYMT4QNPFX5DAI3AHEIGKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a663962d0ed34fc5eb633233d89882be35931799441e63ec5217c5db69a0e19d&width=400&height=225)
![Dominic Thiem (R) congratulates winner Diego Schwartzman at the end of their
quarter-final. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IWH4S3D2NCVKCLBUYUPCBCFEJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3c1f78a6b59b0fbeff6f77f11eb1ddbe269859b17124731517c454a3f2a4193&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal: French Open final promises to be a heavyweight slugfest
Tennis' pound-for-pound king takes on the tournament's undisputed champion with plenty of history on the line
Jon Turner
October 11, 2020
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