Find Out: What Novak Djokovic has to say about Rafael Nadal after Rome Final
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Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal, this is one of the fiercest rivalries not only in tennis but also in sports. The two Giants of the game, the two living legends, there are very few tennis records that they don’t hold between them. The thirty-three year old Serbian Djokovic is an Eighteen time Grand Slam winner who is well on his way to becoming the best hard court player in the history of the game.
Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard, is a year older and has twenty Grand Slam titles, and is already acknowledged as the greatest clay court player ever. The first time these two players met was on the clay courts of the French Open back in 2006. An encounter that Nadal won. As of 2021, the two players have faced each other 57 times, with Djokovic winning 29 of those matches and Nadal triumphing in the remaining 28.
A closer look at Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal in Grand slams and Masters tournaments
Over the years, what has mattered the most to players and fans alike is the Grand slam wins and ATP masters trophies. These are the big tournaments that players want to win and their fans want to see them winning.
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal at Grand slams
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
 Australian Open | 9 | 1 |
 French Open | 1 | 13 |
 Wimbledon Championships | 5 | 2 |
 US Open | 3 | 4 |
| Total Count | 18 | 20 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal at ATP Masters
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
| Indian Wells Masters | 5 | 3 |
| Miami Open | 6 | 0 |
| Monte-Carlo Masters | 2 | 11 |
| Madrid Open/German Open | 3 | 5 |
| Italian Open | 5 | 10 |
| Canadian Open | 4 | 5 |
| Cincinnati Masters | 2 | 1 |
| Shanghai Masters/Madrid Open | 4 | 1 |
| Paris Masters | 5 | 0 |
| Total Count | 36 | 36 |
Novak Djokovic congratulates Rafael Nadal publicly
Novak Djokovic has a certain kind of respect for Nadal that he doesn’t have for anyone else on tour. After all, beating Rafael Nadal on clay is the one code that Novak Djokovic haven’t been able to crack. In twenty-six meetings on clay, Nadal leads Djokovic 19-7. Now, how can you not respect this degree of dominance. To put this record into perspective, Djokovic has faced Roger Federer four times on Grass courts and leads him 3-1.
Novak Djokovic is often known to be humble in defeat and so was the case here. After losing the Italian Open Final to Nadal, he tweeted congratulating Rafael Nadal and saying thanks to all those who supported him in Rome. Novak Djokovic said, “Congratulations to Rafa. Still exciting to meet in the finals. Grazie mille a tutti! Thank you everyone for your support in Rome!”
Also Read: “I want to win everyday, every tournament I play,” Rafael Nadal talks about his champion mindset
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Auri Ghosh
(652 Articles Published)