Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, two of the greatest tennis players in history, have had a storied rivalry that has spanned nearly two decades. Despite their close friendship today, it wasn’t always smooth sailing between the two legends. Djokovic recently revealed an incident that highlights the tension and competitive nature that existed in the early days of their rivalry.
Recalling one of their early encounters at Roland Garros, Djokovic shared how Nadal’s pre-match ritual left him frustrated. “I’m playing against Nadal at Roland Garros, and his dressing area is next to mine, right? So we are so close,” Djokovic recounted in an interview with CBS.
“We try to give each other space. But then the dressing room isn’t that big either. And the way you jump around, like Nadal before we go out on the court… In the dressing room, he’s doing sprints next to you. I can even hear the music he’s listening to, you know, in his headphones. You know, that annoys me.”
Djokovic, now a 24-time Grand Slam champion, admitted that he initially let such behavior get under his skin. However, he soon learned to block out these distractions and even use them to his advantage. “At the beginning of my career, I didn’t realize how it was all part of the script, right? So I was afraid of that. But it also motivates me to do things myself and show that I’m ready, you know? I’m ready for battle, for war.”
As the two prepare to face off in the second round of the Paris Olympics on July 29, the stakes are higher than ever. This match will mark their 60th encounter, with Djokovic holding a slight edge over Nadal in their head-to-head record.
Despite the intense competition, Djokovic expressed excitement about the upcoming match, promising it would be “a spectacle” and hinting at the possibility of it being their final showdown. “We’ll spread some fireworks on the court, like the good old times. I hope we get to meet, because it will probably be one last dance for the both of us,” Djokovic said.
Nadal, however, played down the notion of this being their last match, responding to a reporter’s question with, “Who says [it’s the] last dance?” Engaging in pre-match mind games, Nadal insisted Djokovic was the favorite to win.
“Situations are completely different for him, for me. He’s being very competitive. I was not being very competitive for the last two years, so in that case, I think probably he is the clear favorite,” Nadal remarked. “I’m going to try my best to bring the best to the court and then let’s see how far I can go and how many problems I can create for him.”
Despite Nadal’s cautious words, his impressive 8-2 head-to-head record against Djokovic on clay gives him a significant advantage. However, Djokovic’s recent form at Roland Garros, where he has won the French Open twice in the past four years, cannot be overlooked.
The pair previously faced each other at the Olympics in 2008, with Nadal emerging victorious in the semi-finals before going on to win the gold medal. Djokovic, meanwhile, continues his quest for his first Olympic gold.
Nadal in Paris, ranking, and results in 2024
At the moment ranked no.161, the Spaniard has achieved a 12-6 win-loss record in 2024. Rafael is currently competing in Paris where he defeated the world no.83 Marton Fucsovics 6-1 4-6 6-4
.Rafael Nadal will play the world no.2 Novak Djokovic in the 2nd round on Monday at 2:00 pm on Court Philippe Chatrier. The head to head is 30-29 for Djokovic.
Nadal was the runner-up in Bastad (Nordea Open).
Rafael won 92 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 63 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Nadal will play next at the U.S. Open (U.S. Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 26th of August.
Djokovic in Paris, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently the world no.2, Djokovic has a compiled 24-7 match record in 2024. The Serbian is competing in Paris where he overcame Matthew Ebden 6-0 6-1.
Novak Djokovic will compete against the world no.161 Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round on Monday at 2:00 pm on Court Philippe Chatrier. Their current record is 30-29 for Djokovic.
The Serbian got to the final in Wimbledon.
Novak won 98 titles in his career: 52 on hard courts, 19 on clay courts, 19 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Djokovic has scheduled to play next in Montreal (National Bank Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 5th of August.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic fought against each other 59 times. Their actual head to head record is 30-29 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time they squared off, Rafael Nadal won 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4) in the quarter in Paris (French Open) in May 2022.
Here the video highlights.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic |
| Embed from Getty Images |