Nadal overcomes Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up Novak Djokovic quarter-final

Rafael Nadal beats Canadian 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Spain's Rafael Nadal clenches his fist after scoring a point against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime during their fourth round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Rafael Nadal has contested 112 tennis matches at Roland Garros over the course of his career and he has somehow lost just three times on these courts. But an even more absurd measure of his total dominance lies in how few players have even managed to push him close to the edge, have made him truly doubt. Before Sunday afternoon, only twice over his 17 years, had any opponent even extended him to five sets here.

Along came Felix Auger-Aliassime, who stepped on to Court Philippe Chatrier with quality, courage and belief in his capabilities, and he took advantage of a sub-par Nadal to force a fifth set and push him to the edge. But even as Nadal struggled with aspects of his game, when he desperately needed to step up, he soared and finished the match on his terms. Still in the fight for his 14th French Open title, Nadal edged it 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.