If there is any player who knows every nook and cranny of Rafael Nadal’s game, it is Novak Djokovic. The Serbian has faced the 14-time Roland Garros champion an astronomical 59 times, 19 more matches than Nadal and rival Roger Federer contested.
Djokovic, the top seed this fortnight in Paris, is aiming for his fourth crown at the season’s second major. Though three trophies at a single Slam is nothing to scoff at, there has been one man that has routinely stood in the way of Djokovic at Roland Garros, where Nadal holds an 8-2 record against Djokovic, including three final victories.
“He has been the greatest rival that I ever had. Matches against him on clay have frustrated me so much in my career,” Djokovic said with a smile in Thursday’s post-match press conference. “But they also made me a better player, made me understand what it takes to try to surpass him, try to win at least once or twice at Roland Garros.
“It’s the highest mountain to climb for me to win Roland Garros, particularly because of Nadal, because I always have to win against him in order to get to the title.”
Djokovic will not have to face Nadal if he is to claim a record-extending 25th major title this tournament. The Spaniard, who was competing in his likely final Roland Garros appearance, lost a first-round blockbuster against fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
While that may be a sigh of relief for the World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, fans will miss out on another edition of one of the greatest rivalries in the sport, though a potential meeting would not have came until the semi-finals.
“I think he peaked more than a few times against me, in Roland Garros particularly,” Djokovic said. “I played him here for the first time back in 2006 and then the last time we played was in 2022.
“I have experienced first-hand his evolution as a player. I actually think that he improved his backhand as he was getting older. He was probably conscious of physical struggles that he had and he had to be more aggressive on the court.
“He was still topspinning the forehand better than anybody has ever done it and he still kept that incredible defence and offence on the forehand. But I think with the backhand, he was just able to handle the high balls better than he was maybe at the beginning of our encounters.”
