Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal live score, results, highlights from 2022 French Open quarterfinals

By | May 31, 2022
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For the 10th time in their long rivalry, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will meet at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

Nadal has not only won the most men’s singles French Open titles at 13, but he has gotten the better of his rival several times in Paris, owning a 7-2 record on the clay courts.

Djokovic is the reigning champion after claiming the French Open title in 2021, only his second win in the tournament. During that run, he defeated Nadal in the semifinals, ending the King of Clay’s dominant run of four straight French Open victories.

MORE: Watch the French Open live with fuboTV (get access now)

The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from the 59th overall meeting between two of the best players in the history of tennis. Follow along for results from the match.

Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal score

  1 2 3 4 5
(1) Novak Djokovic 2 6 1 — —
(5) Rafael Nadal 6 4 2 — —

Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal live updates, highlights from 2022 French Open

All times Eastern.

5:42 p.m.: Djokovic knots the fourth game up at deuce after Nadal’s last shot goes out.

5:41 p.m.: Djokovic missed a smash attempt and his next return carried past the baseline. Nadal will now serve at 40-15.

5:40 p.m.: Nadal bounces back from a double fault to start the fourth game with a smash off a high return from Djokovic.

5:36 p.m.: Djokovic brings the third set back to within a game, picking up the win on the third game.

5:33 p.m.: Djokovic battles back to 40-30 after falling behind 40 love, but Nadal finishes him off with a powerful forehand to go up two games in the third set.

5:30 p.m.: Second game is starting well for Nadal too, as Djokovic tries to float a drop shot over the net, but it doesn’t make it. 30 love lead for Nadal.

5:28 p.m.: Djokovic’s return is just outside, and Nadal wins the break point to sweep the first game.

5:26 p.m.: Long rally to start the third set is won by Nadal, who takes a love 15 lead.

Set 2

5:20 p.m.: Nadal’s shot goes out of bounds to give Djokovic his second chance at a set point, then Nadal hits a shot past the baseline. Djokovic evens the match at one set each.

5:19 p.m.: Nadal and Djokovic trade points, and this game will go back to deuce.

5:18 p.m.: Long rally ends with a shot out of bounds that sends the game to deuce.

5:17 p.m.: Nadal had a chance to take the lead on a backhand, but his shot hits the net. 30-40 now, with Djokovic looking to win the set on a break point.

5:16 p.m.: Djokovic’s powerful forehands have evened the game up at 30 all.

5:15 p.m.: Nadal takes a quick 30 love advantage in the 10th game.

5:12 p.m.: Nadal’s shot is out of bounds, and Djokovic has a chance to even up the sets at 1-1.

5:12 p.m.: Djokovic keeps a forehand shot in the lines, and he serves with a 40-15 lead.

5:09 p.m.: Nadal is back in the win column and evens the set at four wins a piece.

5:08 p.m.: Another game heads to deuce after Djokovic evens the score.

5:06 p.m.: Nadal buries a smash hit to even the game at 30 love, and after a scrambling rally for both players, Nadal finishes another point off with a hard hit to take a 40-30 lead.

5:01 p.m.: Nadal misses a chance to get advantage on Djokovic after he correctly read the smash by Djokovic, but the ball hits the net. Djokovic ends the game with a forehand to take his first lead of the match at 4-3.

4:59 p.m.: Powerful serve by Djokovic keeps Nadal off balance, and Djokovic is able to take advantage. Next rally is out by Djokovic to go back to deuce.

4:58 p.m.: Another strong forehand gives Djokovic the advantage, but Nadal comes back to bring the game back to deuce.

4:56 p.m.: Djokovic double faults on the first serve to give Nadal the chance at a break point. His next serve catches Nadal leaning and after an unbalanced return, Djokovic fires in the forehand winner to even the score.

4:55 p.m.: Djokovic got off to a 30 love lead in the game, but Nadal has brought it back to another deuce.

4:50 p.m.: Nadal sends a shot out to the left, then out to the right, and Djokovic wins the break point and ties up the set at three.

4:49 p.m.: Djokovic gets the advantage, but Nadal gets Djokovic with a drop shot. This game has now exceeded 17 minutes.

4:47 p.m.: Djokovic claims his first advantage of the game after Nadal hits a return into the net, but Djokovic hits a ball off the net that carries out on the next point. Another deuce point coming up.

4:45 p.m.: Nadal claims advantage again, but sends a shot past the baseline. Back to deuce.

4:43 p.m.: Nadal brings Djokovic to the front of the net and fires a subsequent return shot by him to go back to advantage, but he double faults to go back to deuce.

4:40 p.m.: Nadal takes advantage after Djokovic’s return is just out-of-bounds, but Djokovic sends it back to deuce with a 99 mph forehand that Nadal can’t handle.

4:39 p.m.: Strong forehands by Djokovic keeps Nadal off-balance, and eventually, Nadal hits one out. Back to deuce.

4:38 p.m.: Nadal claims advantage following a long rally with Djokovic that ended with the Serbian hitting the ball into the net.

4:37 p.m.: Nadal battles back from a 15-40 deficit to deuce with a perfect backhand return and an ace.

4:33 p.m.: Back-to-back forehands have Djokovic leading love 30 on Nadal’s serve. Djokovic is quickly just two points away from tying up the set.

4:29 p.m.: Perfectly placed backhand by Djokovic off a drop shot from Nadal gets him to a 40-15 game point, and he finishes the game with a strong forehand to win his second straight game.

4:28 p.m.: Great backhand return by Djokovic is out of reach for Nadal, and he follows it up with an ace on his next serve. Djokovic now up 30 love.

4:26 p.m.: Djokovic picks up his first win of the second set, and will now serve trailing 3-1.

4:25 p.m.: Shot by Nadal goes just out past the baseline, and Djokovic has his third chance at a break point.

4:22 p.m.: Djokovic saves with an improbable return on a drop shot with the forehand, but Nadal takes care of him on his return with a backhand to even the game. Nadal then rockets his first return with a powerful forehand down that right sideline to take the 30-15 lead.

4:19 p.m.: Djokovic tries to get Nadal with the drop shot, but Nadal responds with a perfect shot past Djokovic to win the game. He’s up 3-0 in the second set.

4:18 p.m.: All of a sudden, Nadal has the advantage after a shot by Djokovic hits the net.

4:17 p.m.: Nadal sends this game to deuce with a backhand that gets past Djokovic.

4:16 p.m.: Djokovic up 40-30 in the third game after Nadal’s return goes out of bounds. Djokovic has responded well in the set, with his only two mistakes being a return that hit the net and another that carried over the baseline.

4:14 p.m.: Perfect second serve by Nadal isn’t returned, and he takes a 2-0 lead in the second set.

4:13 p.m.: Powerful backhand, an ace and a strong forehand by Nadal puts him up 40 love in the second game.

4:10 p.m.: After Djokovic sends a shot back into the net, Nadal capitalizes on a strong forehand and a drop shot to Djokovic’s right to secure the first game of the second set.

4:08 p.m.: Djokovic spoils another break point by Nadal.

4:08 p.m.: Djokovic scrambles to the left after a shot near his right sideline, but Nadal floats in a drop shot to score the point and return to advantage. Nadal sends the next shot out of bounds, as the game surpasses the 10-minute mark.

4:07 p.m.: Djokovic and Nadal exchange out-of-bounds shots, as this game returns to deuce.

4:04 p.m.: Djokovic evens the score up with a nice backhand shot that gets past Nadal.

4:02 p.m.: Nadal can’t capitalize on his advantage after Djokovic battles back to even the score at deuce again. Nadal re-takes advantage on the next point with a strong forehand that catches Djokovic off-balance and then flips an easy backhand over the net to take the point.

4 p.m.: First Djokovic’s return hits the net, then Nadal’s chance for a break point carries past the baseline. Deuce point coming up.

3:59 p.m.: Two similar points go in different directions. First Nadal lobs for a Djokovic smash, then vice versa. 30 all.

3:58 p.m.: The second set is tied at 15 all after Djokovic claimed the first point, but double faults on the second.

Set 1

3:53 p.m.: Djokovic and Nadal exchange points before Djokovic’s shot goes out-of-bounds to give Nadal his first chance at a set point. Djokovic can’t return Nadal’s serve over the net, and Nadal wins the first set.

3:51 p.m.: Nadal lands both his first serves. He can’t return a backhand by Djokovic on the first point, but he sends a hard shot down Djokovic’s right sideline to claim the second point.

3:48 p.m.: Nadal can’t return a strong forehand shot by Djokovic, and he then sends the game point out as Djokovic wins his second game. Nadal will serve up 5-2.

3:47 p.m.: Djokovic and Nadal exchange the first two points, but a nice drop shot by Djokovic gives him the 30-15 advantage.

3:44 p.m.: Returns to the net and past the baseline from Djokovic give Nadal the win in the sixth game and a commanding 5-1 lead in the first set.

3:43 p.m.: Nadal quickly takes the first two points of the sixth game.

3:40 p.m.: Incredible forehand shot by Nadal stays just inside the line to give him the game.

3:39 p.m.: Djokovic’s shot hits the net, and Nadal has another break point opportunity.

3:38 p.m.: After a shot by Djokovic goes out of bounds to give Nadal the lead, Djokovic and Nadal have another long rally until a powerful backhand by Djokovic gets past Nadal to stay even at 30 all.

3:35 p.m.: Djokovic and Nadal exchange points to start the fifth game at 15 all.

3:33 p.m.: Nadal reclaims advantage after some powerful forehand returns, and Djokovic’s final shot hits the net and carries over the baseline to give Nadal the fourth game. He’s up 3-1.

3:31 p.m.: Nadal lops a high shot over Djokovic, who had charged to the net, to take the advantage. Djokovic brings it back to deuce with a drop shot that Nadal returns to the net.

3:30 p.m.: A shot outside and a drop shot for a smash, and just like that, Nadal ties the game at 40.

3:28 p.m.: Nadal finds the net on back-to-back points, and Nadal is up at a 40-15 break point.

3:28 p.m.: Great rally by the two on the first point of the fourth game before Djokovic’s shot hooks outside. Nadal can’t get a clean shot on a ball near his baseline as Djokovic ties it up at 15 all.

3:24 p.m.: Djokovic cruises through the third game. After Nadal hit a shot just outside to start, Djokovic sets him up with a hard serve and a powerful forehand after the return. Another quick point followed by an ace, and Djokovic shuts out Nadal for to win his first game.

3:21 p.m.: Nadal ran up to the net after a drop shot from Djokovic and catches his counterpart leaning right with a shot to his left. Nadal takes the second game.

3:19 p.m.: Nadal returns a shot past Djokovic’s baseline to even the game back at 30 all, but Nadal lands a perfect shot in the back-left corner to move to a game point.

3:17 p.m.: Djokovic claims the first point, but after a strong serve on the second point, Nadal easily sends a shot past Djokovic’s left to tie the score. He then fires in an ace to take a 30-15 advantage.

3:15 p.m.: Djokovic can’t get his shot over the net, and Nadal takes the first game.

3:14 p.m.: Nadal is back to a break point after Dkojovic’s forehand return hits the net.

3:13 p.m.: Nadal re-claims advantage when Djokovic’s rally sails past the baseline, but Djokovic ties it back up on the next point.

3:12 p.m.: Nadal almost makes a sky-hook shot, but can’t get it over the net to send the first game back to deuce.

3:09 p.m.: Nadal can’t return Djokovic’s fifth serve over the net to move Djokovic to a game point, but Nadal responds with a perfect return the next point to send the first game to deuce. Nadal then takes advantage after dropping a shot past Djokovic to his right.

3:07 p.m.: Powerful shot by Djokovic catches Nadal flat to his left, but Nadal gives it back the next point, faking Djokovic to the left and firing it past him to the right.

3:06 p.m.: Nadal’s return is just past Djokovic’s baseline on the first shot. During the second rally, a shot by Djokovic nearly goes out the baseline, but he eventually hits a rally into the net to even up the score at 15 all.

3:04 p.m.: Djokovic will serve to start the match.

3 p.m.: Nadal and Djokovic warming up before the match. Moments away from the start.

2:54 p.m.: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are walking out ahead of their French Open quarterfinal matchup.

How to watch Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal in the French Open

  • TV channel: Tennis Channel
  • Live stream: Peacock, fuboTV

Tennis Channel will be carrying the Nadal vs. Djokovic quarterfinal in the US. The match will also live stream on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, and fuboTV.

In Canada, TSN will carry the match in addition to TSN.ca and the TSN App.

  • UK TV channel: Eurosport
  • UK Live stream: Eurosport

You can subscribe or view Eurosport’s packages here.

  • Australia TV channel: 9Gem
  • Australia Live stream: Stan Sport

You can subscribe or view Stan Sport’s packages here.

What time does Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal start?

  • US/Canada start time: May 31, 2:45 p.m. ET
  • UK start time: May 31, 7.45pm BST
  • Australia start time: June 1, 4.45am AEST

While the start time is dictated by prior matches, the quarterfinal matchup between Nadal and Djokovic will start no earlier than 2:45 p.m. ET and 7.45pm BST, which is 8:45pm local time in Paris. 

MORE: Djokovic vs. Nadal betting odds and predictions

Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal head to head

Tuesday’s meeting between the tennis legends marks the 59th all-time meeting between the two, with Djokovic owning a 30-28 lead.

Nadal owns their clay-court showdowns by a record of 19-8. The two have met in the French Open in nine prior matchups, with Nadal owning the 7-2 advantage.

Djokovic, though, is 2-1 in their last three meetings at Roland-Garros, including an upending of Nadal in the 2021 semifinals en route to a French Open victory. This will be their first meeting on the court since last year’s tournament.

The two also met in the 2020 French Open final, with Nadal taking the win in straight sets.

MORE: Who has Rafael Nadal lost to at the French Open?

French Open schedule 2022

Quarterfinal matchups begin on Tuesday, May 31. 

The tournament concludes on Saturday, June 4 for the women’s half and Sunday, June 5 for the men’s side. 

Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the tournament:

Date Time (ET) Round TV channel
Tuesday, May 31 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Quarterfinals Tennis Channel
Wednesday, June 1 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Quarterfinals Tennis Channel
Thursday, June 2 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Women’s semifinals Tennis Channel
  11 a.m.-2 p.m.   NBC, Peacock
Friday, June 3 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Men’s semifinals Tennis Channel
  11 a.m.-3 p.m.   NBC, Peacock
Saturday, June 4 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Women’s final NBC, Peacock
Sunday, June 5 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Men’s final NBC, Peacock

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