Will Djokovic vs. Nadal, Part 59, be their last?

PARIS (AP) — This French Open is the first Grand Slam tournament in a year with both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the field. And anyone who enjoys men’s tennis — or, indeed, sports — should be thrilled that those two titans of the game will face each other for a record 59th time.

Is it a shame Tuesday night’s match is “only” a quarterfinal, instead of something with more at stake? Perhaps. Will that dissuade anyone from watching from afar or dull the atmosphere that’ll envelop Court Philippe Chatrier? Doubtful.

Could it decrease the intensity of each player's performance? Not a chance.

“I’m ready for it,” Djokovic said.

“I hope to be able to give myself a chance to play at the highest level possible,” Nadal said, “and then let’s see.”

So then the question that Nadal will have on his mind — and we know so because he said so — and Djokovic might, too, is: How many more of these showdowns are there going to be?

First of all, Nadal turns 36 on Friday; Djokovic turned 35 on May 22, the first day of the French Open.

“I don’t know what can happen in the near future with my career,” Nadal said.

His body has been a big issue over the past 12 months. He missed the last half of last season, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, because of chronic pain in his left foot that flared up again in recent weeks. After his 20-0 start to 2022, he missed three tournaments because of a rib injury.

“I can’t complain much,” Nadal said, noting that 2 1/2 weeks ago he had no idea whether he'd make it this far.

“Being honest, every match that I play here, I don’t know if it’s going to be my last match here in Roland Garros. ... That’s my situation now,” he said after edging 21-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets Sunday night.