Novak Djokovic met Rafael Nadal for the last time in his career in the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Novak Djokovic ‘proud’ of figuring out ‘puzzle and formula’ about Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic was one of those players who defeated Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, where no one in the history of tennis has achieved what the Spaniard has done. The winner of 14 French Open titles faced Djokovic 10 times on the clay courts of Paris.
It was at the 2006 Roland Garros, where the two great athletes faced each other for the first time in their respective careers. Nadal unsurprisingly holds an 8-2 win-loss record in the tournament against the Serb.
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Djokovic was successful in figuring out a way to upset the King of Clay on the surface, winning his first match on the red dirt in the 2011 Madrid Open final. Following this, he defeated Nadal in the final of the Italian Open. The European clay swing is underway and Djokovic reminisced the matches he won on clay against the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
I played one of my best matches on clay and it came at the right moment [winning the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters] because you know it took me years to try to figure out this puzzle and formula for beating Nadal on clay. So not many players have succeeded in several years and multiple times playing at different tournaments and I can proudly say that I have managed to do it at the biggest tournaments, including Roland Garros. Nadal on clay was a big mountain to climb.
Novak Djokovic told BB Tennis
The 38-year-old, after lifting his first Monte Carlo Masters title in 2005, ended the tournament in his favor eight consecutive times. His winning streak was ended by the Serb, who prior to that final, faced defeats on the previous two occasions he met Nadal in the summit clashes in The Principality (in 2009 and 2013). Although Nadal is far ahead in the head-to-head meetings on clay, Djokovic edges him in their overall head-to-head encounters with a 31-29 record.
Patrick Mouratoglou feels Novak Djokovic has proved that mentality is the biggest thing in tennis
Serena Williams‘ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou said when Novak Djokovic arrived on the scene, both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had established themselves as “unbeatable” players. Mouratoglou, who now is a part of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka‘s team, believes Djokovic had an average game if compared to Federer and Nadal. But the way he ascended to the top, breaking many major records, including the Grand Slam tally one, it only showed how important a strong mentality plays a role.
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)
Even today, at the end of his career, when you look at Rafa’s game, Roger’s game, Novak’s game, it’s incredible that Novak is the strongest of the three, the one who broke all the records. It shows that the most important thing is not in the tennis, in the racket. Obviously, you need tennis, but the most important thing, what really makes the difference, is the state of mind, the mentality.
Patrick Mouratoglou told Eurosport
The Frenchman also made his feelings clear on the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate. He said in the future, Federer probably will be considered a player who has left an “infinitely greater mark than Novak“. He implied that stats shouldn’t only be considered while debating who is the best.
On the clay swing, Djokovic kick-started his campaign at the Monte-Carlo Masters. He arrived in Monaco after losing the Miami Open final to Jakub Mensik.
Djokovic was bidding to win his third title in the tournament, but Alejandro Tabilo denied him a chance to win as he knocked him out in straight sets in the second round. He will next play the Madrid Open.