French Open: Not the match of the year, says Nadal on Djokovic clash

Defending champion Rafael Nadal plays down the hype surrounding today’s French Open quarter-final clash against World No 1 Novak Djokovic

Paris: Rafael Nadal believes all the pressure will be on Novak Djokovic in today's French Open quarter-final with the nine-time champion dismissing the headline-grabbing collision as "not vital".

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Novak Djokovic celebrates a match point over Richard Gasquet of France on Monday and Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Jack Sock on Monday. Pics/AFP, Getty Images  

Nadal has defeated World No 1 Djokovic six times out of six at Roland Garros where the Spaniard boasts a record of 70 wins and just one loss. Three of his victories against Djokovic have been in the last three years — in the 2012 and 2014 finals and 2013 semi-finals.

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In contrast to Nadal's domination, Djokovic remains frustratingly just one French Open title short of a career Grand Slam, something already achieved by the Spaniard, fellow present-day rival Roger Federer and five other men.

"This is not vital," said Nadal, who has not played Djokovic at such an early stage of any tournament for eight years. "If it was a final, things would be different. It's a quarter-final and if you win you go to the semi-final. It's not a matter of lifting the trophy.

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"Last year I beat him in the final. This is not the match of the year. Matches of the year are finals and decisive matches. If I lose the quarter-final my life won't change." Top seed Djokovic eased into the last eight on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet.

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