KEY POINTS

  • Rafa Nadal defeated Felix in five sets Sunday
  • Nadal will face Djokovic in the quarter-final
  • Djokovic defeated Nadal in the Roland Garros semi-final last year

Rafael Nadal will need a "monumental effort" to beat Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final of the ongoing Roland Garros, according to Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime.

It took four hours, 21 minutes and five sets for Nadal to get past World No. 9 Felix in the Round of 16 at the French Open, a Grand Slam that he has won a record 13 times. Felix exactly knows where Nadal's game stands right now after losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the Philippe Chatrier Court.

Nadal, who has just three losses this year, lost to Djokovic in four sets in the Roland Garros semi-final last year.

"I wish Rafa the very best, I admire him greatly in everything that he's done. He's somebody who I really like, and so I wish him the very best for the next match. But then I think that he also knows that it's going to be difficult. We played for a long time today and it's still the quarter-finals and afterward, there are still two more matches to win the tournament. Rafa is coming here to win the tournament," Felix told ATP after losing to Nadal in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

"So as I said, I really wish him the very best, but it will be a monumental effort for him, I think, to win. But as he and Novak have always done, they will give it their all right through to the end and it will be a great battle," World No. 9 tennis player said.

Rafael Nadal is into the second week at Roland Garros for the 17th time
Rafael Nadal is into the second week at Roland Garros for the 17th time AFP / Anne-Christine POUJOULAT

The Canadian tennis star added that the upcoming fixture is a huge challenge for Djokovic as well.

"[It takes] a lot of effort and concentration. At one point even though he raised the level of his game, there were a few dips, physically, and mentally, and I kind of lost the order of the game. I lost my intentions at one point. But despite everything, I managed to come back when necessary, to serve well again. At the end of the day, I showed some positive things, and I managed to last the whole run and it's positive for what comes next," said Felix.

Nadal and Djokovic are scheduled to lock horns in the quarter-final of the clay-court tournament Tuesday.

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