Djokovic, Federer and Nadal after four matches a piece @ 2013 French Open. Everyone has now dropped at least a set, TOC discrepancy has shrunk, still Federer looks good based on his massive winners-to-UEs ratio lead, ace count and bk pt opp. offered .....

Djokovic, however, may have chosen the wrong time to drop a set as it may have allowed some 'misery loves company' contentment for Nadal as did the Federer five-setter. With a near-zero likelihood of Djokovic dropping a set at his next match against Haas, Djokovic could have impacted Nadal's psyche far more severely if he had set up the semifinal clash 'clean'.

With Nadal able to revert to his usual self (Due to weather? Mercury crept over 20 degree Celsius for the first time.), the movement in opposing direction from both sides may have diminished, if not wrested, the advantage Djokovic could clearly have had. Nadal dished his first breadstick of the tournament, when in past years he had been at two or three already by now - with bagels. With an exhausted Wawrinka next, Nadal may be able to narrow down the margin his first two matches (Heck, three) allowed Djokovic - even further.

With semifinal clash between the two 100% certain barring a miracle, what each will bring to the court from previous matches cannot be ignored as a factor that may influence at least insignificantly. Djokovic's first set loss of the tournament coinciding with the demise of his first coach will not escape Nadal's calculations to arrive at a realistic figure when factoring in all that's happened here and on clay this season - in his attempt to realistically assess his chances of winning the de-facto final.

Via: The feast of the Betis sinks to a wounded Zaragoza