Spending a week like this in group with Rafa and others, almost all of them who are top ten players, was very special.' Novak Djokovic will renew his love-hate relationship with Roland Garros in the knowledge that it's himself rather than 12-time champion Rafael Nadal who could pose the greatest barrier to winning a second Paris title and 18th Grand Slam crown. Rafael Nadal: 'I can't always think about GOAT race vs Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic' Former Top 10 predicts end to Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic's supremacy 1, McEnroe: 'People can even say that with Roger Federer and Nadal around...', 2020 Roland Garros: Coco Gauff continues with her upsets, Venus Williams exits, Roland Garros 2020: Serena Williams' TRAINING SESSION for her first round match, Roland Garros 2020: Andy Murray vs Stan Wawrinka's MATCH-POINT, Rafael Nadal: 'Novak Djokovic beat me a lot of times', Rafael Nadal is “very impressive” - Halep's coach after watching him on Center Court, Toni Nadal: 'Roger Federer seems eternal, but Rafa will beat his 19 Slams'. However, the last time he suffered such an early departure from the Italian capital was in 2017 -- just weeks later he was lifting a 10th French Open without dropping a set. However, he chose a smash rather than a soothing touch. World number seven Alexander Zverev, fresh from his runners-up spot in New York, has made the quarter-finals in the last two seasons. These are little things that on the Tour don't happen because you think about yourself, you want to choose your hours and want to win practice session matches. The unusual sight of Roland Garros being played in the autumn also means radically different conditions to those expected in its normal time slot of May and June. We could see how Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are big friends last weekend at the Laver Cup tennis event. "It's Nadal," insisted the world number one when pushed on who heads to Paris as the favourite. In the 2012 final against Nadal, having won eight games in a row, he was up a break and pushing to level the match at two sets apiece when rain brought an overnight suspension. "It's a completely special and unpredictable year," admitted Nadal of a French Open pushed back four months due to the pandemic. We shared many strong moments on court and off court in a very friendly way. Tennis News: Novak Djokovic will renew his love-hate relationship with Roland Garros in the knowledge that it's himself rather than 12-time champion Rafael Nadal w The 33-year-old heads for the French capital with a 31-1 record this year after his New York brain-fade, which saw him accidentally hit a line judge with a ball, was followed by a record 36th Masters title in Rome. And at the same time I say if he didn't exist, I would have not won so much (laughter). Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the final match of the Men’s Italian Open against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman at Foro Italico on September 21, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Then as the time went on his personality increased and he started playing his chances. Djokovic is right to be cautious after experiencing numerous low points on the red clay of Paris. In the 2012 final against Nadal, having won eight games in a row, he was up a break and pushing to level the match at two sets apiece when rain brought an overnight suspension. “The record that he has there, the history of his results, you just can’t put anybody in front of him.”. “It’s Nadal,” insisted the world number one when pushed on who heads to Paris as the favorite. Novak Djokovic will renew his love-hate relationship with Roland Garros in the knowledge that it's himself rather than 12-time champion Rafael Nadal … Twelve months later, Djokovic was poised for a semi-final win over Nadal with just a routine putaway required to help give him a 5-3 final set lead and a chance to serve for the match. Not even Nadal, the holder of 19 majors, or Roger Federer, with a record 20 Slams, can match that staggering achievement. The world number three Austrian has 17 career titles with 10 of those on clay. Novak Djokovic is to renew his love-hate relationship with Roland Garros in the knowledge that it is himself rather than seemingly unsettled 12-time champion Rafael Nadal who could pose the greatest threat to winning a second Paris title and 18th Grand Slam crown. Djokovic's 2016 triumph at Roland Garros allowed him to become only the third man after Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time. “Obviously when you’re playing in hurricane kind of conditions, it’s hard to perform your best,” said Djokovic. Play resumed the following day but Djokovic’s momentum was lost and a double-fault on championship point completed his misery. Novak Djokovic will renew his love-hate relationship with Roland Garros in the knowledge that it’s himself rather than 12-time champion Rafael Nadal who could pose the greatest barrier to winning a second French Open title and 18th Grand Slam crown. © 2020 Copyright RFI - All rights reserved.