MAKAKASAGUPA ni reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal si Diego Schwartzman sa semifinals kung saan target ng una na mapanatiling buhay ang kanyang kampanya para sa 13th Roland Garros title.
Inamin ni Carlos Moya, ang coach ni Nadal, na nag-iingat ang record 12-time French Open champion kay Schwartzman subalit sinabing mas maraming kasaysayan ang isusulat ng Spaniard sa Roland Garros papasok sa kanilang semifinals.
“Rafa is Rafa, this is Roland Garros and Philippe Chatrier, there’s history and we must continue it,” wika ni Moya, ang dating world No. 1 at 1998 French Open winner.
Haharapin ni Nadal si 14th-ranked Schwartzman para sa isang puwesto sa finals, halos tatlong linggo makaraang maitala ng Argentine ang kanyang unang panalo laban sa 19-time Grand Slam champion.
“He’s a player we respect a lot, despite always beating him until Rome. He’s always been an uncomfortable opponent,” sabi ni Moya.
“Now he has made a leap mentally, before he had a hard time facing difficult moments against Rafa. Perhaps now he won’t hesitate as much as before.”
Ang dalawang players ay naunang nagharap sa Roland Garros, kung saan nagwagi si Nadal sa apat na sets sa quarterfinals ng 2018 edition.
Sa wakas ay nanaig si Schwartzman kay Nadal sa ika-10 pagtatangka noong nakaraang buwan sa Italian Open sa Rome.
“Rafa didn’t handle the problems well there and Schwartzman took advantage of it,” ani Moya.
“It’s what happens with opponents of this calibre, if you don’t play well and he does, you lose for sure.”
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