Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic French Open 2022: Head-to-Head | Top 5 best matches | Nadal vs Djokovic rivalry

 

Two legends, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will add another phase to their record-old rivalry when the two of the best will meet in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Tuesday.

Individually they might be the two of the greatest tennis players of all time but when they face each other on the tennis court they’ve produced one of the best rivalries in tennis history.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have fought a record number of matches in men’s tennis history, As both great players have met a record 58 times on the tennis court. wherein Novak Djokovic is leading by 30-28 in their head-to-head matches.

French Open: A Sneak peek into world’s Most “Competitive” Tennis Event

Though, Rafael Nadal is known as the Clay king of tennis and has won a record 13-times French Open. In their head-to-head on clay court, both players have met 27 times on the red court as Nadal has won 19 times and Djokovic won 8 times. 

Also in their last eight matches at French Open, Djokovic only managed to win two matches against Nadal.

In their last meeting at French Open in the 2021 semi-finals, Novak Djokovic won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), and 6-2 against Rafael Nadal. Only two players have defeated Nadal at French Open, One is Novak Djokovic and the other is Robin Soderling in 2009 Roland Garros France.

Here’s a look at Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic: Top 5 best matches

#5. Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 2012 Australian Open Final:

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5

One of the best and longest matches in the Grand slam final lasted for 5 hours and 53 minutes and in the end, Novak Djokovic emerged as the winner between the two greats.

#4. Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 2013 French Open Semi-Final:

Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(3), 9-7

French Open Semi-final was not less than a movie, where Nadal was so close to victory but the breakpoint by Djokovic made it to go in the last set.

In a breathtaking fifth set, that too lasted for more than 90 minutes, Rafael Nadal made a comeback from 2-4 down to win it 9-7 and claimed his eighth French Open title.

#3. Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 2018 Wimbledon Final:

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9), 3-6, 10-8

In a highly contested Wimbledon Finals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic faced each other one more time, wherein the match went onto the 5th set to take it 10-8 after 5 hours and 15 minutes. 

#2. Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 2015 French Open Quarter-Finals:

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1

This french open quarterfinal between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal was the sheer drama that has indicted this rivalry. After six years, Rafael Nadal has lost at the French Open and it was Novak Djokovic who managed to beat the king of clay. 

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic became the second man to beat Rafael Nadal at French Open by defeating him 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in the french open quarterfinals.

#1. Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 2014 French Open Finals:

Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4

This French Open final was the most important match for Spaniard Rafael Nadal, as he ended Novak’s four-match winning streak against Nadal with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 win in the 2014 French Open Finals.

The win over Novak Djokovic also made him retain his world Ranking 1 over the Serbian. 

Rafael Nadal also becomes the first player in history to win 9 titles at a Grand Slam that taking him with Pete Sampras in the grand slam tally of 14 titles.