About his triumph at the French Open, Novak Djokovic has been candid about the impact his fierce competitor Rafael Nadal had on him.
The Serbian claimed that Nadal was unbeatable at Roland Garros for a considerable amount of time and that the Spaniard was the main, if not the only, reason he did not have more titles there.
The 37-year-old is a three-time French Open champion and a four-time runner-up in the major on clay. Before completing the career Grand Slam in 2016 with his first-ever French Open victory, Djokovic had won multiple titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
Nadal has only lost two of his four Paris Grand Slam matches to Djokovic, in the quarterfinals of the 2015 tournament and the semifinals of the 2021 tournament. Nadal owns an incredible 112-4 record at Roland Garros, an all-time record for titles at a single major tournament, and an astounding 14 Roland Garros crowns.
During an interview with the Serbian broadcaster RTS, Djokovic was questioned about whether Nadal’s supremacy was the only reason he hadn’t won the French Open sooner.
Djokovic talked about it and said: “Probably not, to be completely honest. For me, but for Federer as well. Nadal was unbeatable there for a long time — he lost only a few times at Phillipe-Chatrier stadium. Every time you walk on that court there with him, he is the favourite.”
He added: “Even at the Olympics, he had injury trouble, I was in better form, but still, you know it’s the highest mountain to climb. He is the biggest, perhaps the only reason why I don’t have more Roland Garros titles, but I say – every win against him there is worth double.”
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Ranked no.4, the Serbian played his last match on the 30th of August when he lost to world no.24 Alexei Popyrin 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4
in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open (draw).Until now, during this year Djokovic has achieved a compiled 31-8 match record. Djokovic conquered 1 title in Paris. Novak reached the final in Wimbledon.
He is also scheduled to play in Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 2nd of October and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 28th of October.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Ranked no.154, the Spaniard played his last match on the 29th of July when he lost to world no.4 Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris (draw).
During this season the Spaniard owns a 12-7 record. Rafael Nadal’s best result of the present season was reaching the final in Bastad.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played each other 60 times. Their record is 31-29 for Djokovic. The last time they locked horns, Novak Djokovic won 6-1 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris (Olympics) on the 29th of July 2024.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal |
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