Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will play 'greatest quarter-final in French Open history'

Novak Djokovic's coach has claimed the Serb and Rafael Nadal will play the "greatest quarter-final in the French Open history" with both now just one match away from their 59th meeting. Goran Ivanisevic believes Djokovic and Nadal will both make it to the quarter-final stage but claimed it was "better" for his charge to face the 13-time champion earlier on in Paris, as opposed to in the final.

Djokovic and Nadal are in the same quarter of the French Open draw, and now find themselves within one round of a rematch of their semi-final in Paris just one year ago. It would be their first meeting since the world No 1 upset the man dubbed the 'King of Clay' in that match, but Ivanisevic admitted the Spaniard remained the favourite for the title.

"Rafael Nadal is always the favourite in Paris," he told Tennis Majors. "He has won 13 titles here and he must be considered the favourite, but he was the favourite last year as well and he did not win the title. I think that it is extremely hard to face him in the final here, because he has never lost one. The same thing with Novak in Australia, where it is almost impossible to play him in the finals."

The retired former world No 1 was glad his charge would face the 13-time French Open champion earlier in the tournament again and claimed they would play the best quarter-final the tournament had seen but confessed he didn't know whether Djokovic would come through the clash. "Last year, I said it is better for Novak to meet Rafa in the semis, and now they could potentially face off in the quarters," he said.

JUST IN: Emma Raducanu 'forgot' she won US Open and discusses being 'absorbed'

"First they both have to get there - which I believe they will - and then we will have the greatest