Djokovic on Nadal: 'I've experienced his evolution'

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.”

Djokovic leads Nadal 30-29 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with their past two meetings coming at Roland Garros in 2022 and 2021. The 98-time tour-level titlist recalled some of their most epic encounters at the French major, where in 2013 the pair played a memorable four-hour, 37-minute semi-final that Nadal won deep in a fifth set.

“We had some really amazing encounters over the years," Djokovic said. "A couple of matches that really stand out that we played here against each other were that five-setter that he won, it was 9-7 in the fifth, semi-finals of 2013.

“Then, he didn't play his best, but I played probably the best match I ever played against him on clay here when I won against him in the quarters the year I lost in the final, 2015. When I won here in 2021, we played again, a very long semi-final, deep in the night. Same thing the year after, he beat me in quarters, also night session, 7-6 in the fourth.”

This year finds Djokovic with different expectations in the French capital, but still with the same hope of lifting the trophy. Seeking his first title of 2024, Djokovic improved to 16-6 on the season overall with a second-round, straight-sets victory against Roberto Carballes Baena. The seven-time Nitto ATP Finals titlist has shown flashes of his best level across his opening two matches, but Djokovic is keeping the mindset he initially had when the tournament began.

“I have to keep my expectations a bit lower. Of course, hopes and beliefs and convictions are always there, always high, and I always aim for the highest star,” said Djokovic, who last year became the oldest Roland Garros champion (36).

“There is always that kind of conviction and belief inside of me that I can win a slam. That's the reason why I'm still competing at this level. That's why I'm here. At this age I wouldn't really be competing at the slams and continuing to play professional tennis if I didn't believe that I possess the quality to go all the way to the title match.”