Rafael Nadal is yet to drop a set at the French Open 2020 en route to the semi-finals. There, he will face Diego Schwartzman who will be going into the match on the back of an almost five-hour long five-setter against Dominic Thiem. This was a match that had long and tiring rallies in abundance.

However, Schwartzman is also fresh off beating Nadal in straight sets at the Italian Open from a few weeks ago. Additionally, Nadal believes the conditions favor the game of his Argentinian opponent more.

“We are in a special tournament for me. I think the conditions are perhaps a little bit more favorable for his style of play, but I have to find my way to hurt him and to have a chance to win,” Nadal said after his win against Jannik Sinner on Tuesday.

(Quotes have been translated with Google Translate)

Rafael Nadal is aware of the challenge posed by Schwartzman

In his previous matches against Nadal, Schwartzman has shown that he has the tools to make things difficult for the 12-time champion. The conditions also favor his game, and the Argentine can pack a heavy punch with his groundstrokes. He has also shown an ability in the past of being able to work a way around the heavy topspin on Nadal’s shots.

The conditions also favored Sinner’s game more in the quarter-final, but Nadal found a way to conquer the match all the same. The Spaniard knows where his game needs to be at, against Schwartzman.

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“I need to improve some things. The end of the game shows me what my game has to be in order to have a chance to continue in this tournament. I know that I will play against a very, very difficult opponent in the semi-finals,” Nadal said further.

Different mindset, a different strategy

Nadal admitted that he has to play differently than the way he did in the Rome quarter-final. “I am excited and with the motivation and attitude to do [things differently than in Rome]. I hope to be ready to reach the level I need in the semi-finals,” Nadal added.

The head-to-head record between the two men favors Nadal heavily, with nine wins in ten matches. However, many of those matches have been quite competitive. Schwartzman has twice taken a set off Nadal in Grand Slams, at both the Australian Open and the French Open in 2018.