Rafael Nadal says Novak Djokovic is the “best player” he’s ever seen in terms of ball control and backhand shots

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have faced each other 60 times, with the latter holding a slim 31-29 edge.

Rafael Nadal says Novak Djokovic is the “best player” he’s ever seen in terms of ball control and backhand shots

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (via Olympics)

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic rivalry has been regarded as one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport. The pair went toe-to-toe against each other for 18 years, bringing out the best of each other. Nadal, who has retired from professional tennis revealed that Djokovic is the best player in terms of ball control and backhand shot.

Djokovic and Nadal are statistically two of the most successful male players in the history of tennis. The former has claimed a mind-blowing 24 Grand Slam titles in his career, while the latter has an outstanding 22 Slams. Both faced each other at least once from 2006 to 2022 and in 2024.

In their 60 meetings on the court, Djokovic holds a slender 31-29 record against Nadal. They last faced each other at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Djokovic won the former World No.1 in straight sets. In a conversation with American legend Andy Roddick, Nadal pointed out that each time he played against Djokovic he had to be at his best against his backhand.

Against Novak it was a little bit about… ok, we can have a strategy, but I need to play very well. I need to play very well all the time. We don’t play the same style of course. But it’s not a clear strategy. Against Roger, I will damage him against his backhand. Against Novak, I don’t have that feeling. The feeling is I need to play very well for a long time and know that I have to adjust things. I can’t play too many times against his backhand. Especially high balls because then he takes the ball quicker and puts you in a very difficult position.

Rafael Nadal said via Served with Andy Roddick

Nadal added that he began to use his slice as a defense against Djokovic’s tactics and that it worked. However, the main issue became Djokovic’s ball control, which is best he has ever seen in the sport.

I started to use the slice more against him. Sometimes it worked for me well. Sometimes against Novak it was good to play to the middle. Don’t give him a lot of angles. With Novak, when you’re able to open him, if you don’t really create a lot of damage, he is able to open you more. In terms of ball control, I think he’s the best I ever played and that I ever saw.

Rafael Nadal said

Nadal retired from professional tennis at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last November. The Spaniard lost his final match against Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal reveals the surface he preferred to play against Novak Djokovic apart from clay

Rafael Nadal’s matchup against Novak Djokovic always leaves fans with expectations for a game of exciting tennis. Notwithstanding the surface, it was always they both played great tennis. However, aside from Nadal’s beloved clay court, there was one surface in particular that he enjoyed playing against Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal 1
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (via Eurosport)

Nadal revealed that it was grass. He said during the aforementioned conversation that despite his good run on a hard court, he preferred playing Djokovic on grass than on a hard court, especially in Wimbledon.

Of course my game adapts well naturally to the clay but I love playing on fast courts. It’s true that I finished my winning with a couple of US Open titles, but my second best surface was grass. Honestly I prefer to play against Novak on grass than on hard courts.

Rafael Nadal said

Nadal and Djokovic met four times on grass court, with each claiming two wins. Djokovic won his meeting in 2011 and 2018 at Wimbledon, while Nadal won in 2007 and 2008.