This week marks the beginning of the 2023 campaigns for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in Adelaide and Sydney, respectively. The superstar rivals are aiming for yet another Australian Open victory. The two players have a combined total of 43 Grand Slam titles; Djokovic has 21 and Nadal has 22, setting up an epic matchup at Melbourne Park in January.
While Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times, Nadal is the current champion. For the first time since being sensationally detained and then deported prior to 2022 Australian Open due to his refusal to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, Djokovic makes his way back to Australia.
In the midst of a difficult and shortened year in which he was unable to compete in two major tournaments due to his vaccination status, he begins his quest for an incredible tenth Australian Open championship at the Adelaide International on Sunday. A new government in Canberra overturned the ban on Djokovic traveling to Australia before 2025, and he is now aiming for more victories at his most prosperous Grand Slam venue.
Djokovic in Adelaide
Norfolk will have to face rather tough competition in the ATP 250 in Adelaide. The draw in South Australia has an incredible lineup for an ATP250. Besides Novak, local tennis fans will have the luxury of seeing in action the likes of Felix Auger Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Jannik Sinner, to name a few.
| Seed | Player | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | N.Djokovic | 5 |
| 2 | F.Auger-Aliassime | 6 |
| 3 | D.Medvedev | 7 |
| 4 | A.Rublev | 8 |
| 5 | H.Rune | 11 |
| 6 | J.Sinner | 15 |
| 7 | D.Shapovalov | 18 |
| 8 | K.Khachanov | 20 |
| R.Agut | 21 | |
| M.Kecmanovic | 29 | |
| S.Korda | 33 | |
| M.Cressy | 34 | |
| Y.Nishioka | 36 | |
| J.Draper | 42 | |
| L.Sonego | 45 | |
| B.Nakashima | 47 | |
| A.Murray | 49 | |
| P.Cachin | 57 | |
| M.Giron | 61 | |
| M.McDonald | 63 | |
| Q.Halys | 64 | |
| C.Lestienne | 65 | |
| D.Galan | 67 | |
| K.Edmund | 48 |
Nadal at the United Cup
Rafa decided to defend the colors of team Spain at the newly-minted United Cup. The Spanish sensation will play his matches in Sydney. Spain is in group D alongside home favourite Australia and Great Britain.
Novak Djokovic in 2022
At the moment ranked no.5, Djokovic played his last match on the 20th of November when he overcame world no.3 Casper Ruud 7-5 6-3 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals to win his 91st career title.
This year Djokovic has managed to achieve a composed 42-7 match record. Novak conquered 5 titles in 2022 in Rome, Wimbledon, Tel Aviv, Astana and the Nitto ATP Finals. Novak was the finalist in Belgrade and Paris.
He is also scheduled to play in Australian Open (Australian Open) after Adelaide. The main draw will start on the 1st of January.
Rafael Nadal in 2022
Now ranked no.2, the Spaniard played his last match on the 17th of November when he defeated world no.3 Casper Ruud 7-5 7-5 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Until now, during this year Nadal owns an overall 39-8 win-loss record. Rafael clinched 4 titles in 2022 in Melbourne, Australian Open, Acapulco and French Open. Nadal reached the final in Indian Wells.
Nadal is scheduled to compete next in Australian Open (Australian Open). He will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 16th of January.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal squared off 59 times. The head to head is 30-29 for Djokovic. The last time they competed against each other, Rafael Nadal won 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4) in the quarter in Paris (French Open) on the 31st of May 2022.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |