PARIS — Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s 39-match French Open winning streak, beating the nine-time champion in a surprisingly lopsided quarterfinal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday.
It is only the second defeat for Nadal in 72 career matches at Roland Garros. The other came in the fourth round in 2009 against Robin Soderling.
Before that, Nadal had won four championships in a row at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. Since that lone previous setback, Nadal had collected a record five consecutive French Open trophies.
The No. 1-ranked Djokovic lost all six previous matches he’d played against Nadal in Paris, including the 2012 and 2014 finals.
Thumbnail photo via David Vincent/Associated Press
