Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal: Head-to-Head Record Ahead of Final Meeting
Notable Matches One of their most memorable clashes occurred in the 2012 Australian Open final, which is often considered their greatest match. The epic contest lasted five hours and 53 minutes, with Djokovic emerging victorious, marking the longest Grand Slam final in history. In 2015, Djokovic managed to level the head-to-head record for the first time at 23-23 after a victory at the ATP World Tour Finals. This win initiated a dominant streak for Djokovic, who secured seven consecutive victories against Nadal during that period.
Rafael Nadal is set to face Novak Djokovic for the final time in a match that marks the end of one of tennis's most iconic rivalries. The two legends will compete in the third-place play-off of the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia after both faced defeats in the semi-finals. Nadal was defeated by fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, while Djokovic lost to world number one Jannik Sinner in three sets.
Rivalry Overview
The rivalry between Nadal and Djokovic began in 2006 during the French Open, where Djokovic retired while trailing by two sets. Since then, they have met a total of 60 times over the course of 18 years.
Initially, the rivalry was heavily skewed in Nadal's favor, with the Spaniard winning 14 of their first 18 encounters, including a semi-final match at the 2008 Olympics, where he claimed the gold medal.
The first Grand Slam final between the two took place at the 2010 US Open, with Nadal winning in four sets. Djokovic avenged this loss in the following year at the 2011 Wimbledon final.
Notable Matches
One of their most memorable clashes occurred in the 2012 Australian Open final, which is often considered their greatest match. The epic contest lasted five hours and 53 minutes, with Djokovic emerging victorious, marking the longest Grand Slam final in history.
In 2015, Djokovic managed to level the head-to-head record for the first time at 23-23 after a victory at the ATP World Tour Finals. This win initiated a dominant streak for Djokovic, who secured seven consecutive victories against Nadal during that period.
Nadal held a significant advantage at the French Open, having defeated Djokovic six times between 2006 and 2014. However, in 2015, Djokovic recorded his first victory over Nadal at Roland Garros, winning their quarter-final match in straight sets.
The last time they faced each other at Wimbledon was in the 2018 semi-finals, which lasted over five hours, concluding with Djokovic winning 10-8 in the fifth set.
In their last ten meetings, both players have won five times, with their most recent encounter occurring in the second round of the Olympics, where Djokovic claimed victory en route to winning gold.
Head-to-Head Summary
- Total Matches: 60
- Nadal Wins: 29
- Djokovic Wins: 31
Breakdown by Surface:
- Clay: Djokovic 9 - 20 Nadal
- Hard Court: Djokovic 20 - 7 Nadal
- Grass: Djokovic 2 - 2 Nadal
Grand Slam Results:
- Total Grand Slam Matches: 18
- Nadal Wins: 11
- Djokovic Wins: 7
Grand Slam Finals:
- Total Grand Slam Finals: 9
- Nadal Wins: 5
- Djokovic Wins: 4
As they prepare for this final meeting, fans are eager to witness the concluding chapter of a remarkable rivalry that has defined an era in tennis.
