The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal has been the most intense and tough in the entire history of tennis. Their challenges have always been very tough physically and mentally: a superhuman test, for all the tennis players who came before and probably for those who will come after them.
A rivalry that has found its maximum expression on the Roland Garros clay-courts. As reported by puntedebreak.com, a rivalry that Nole himself has admitted has prevented him from winning further titles at the French Open. The Serbian champion has in fact said that Rafa is the reason why he has only won three titles in Paris, calling the Spaniard the greatest.
“Nadal is the greatest, maybe the only reason why I don’t have more Roland Garros titles. Every win against him there is worth double. Every time you step on the court with him, he is the favorite. Even in the Olympics, he had injury problems, I was in better shape, but still, you know it’s the highest mountain to climb,” explained Nole.
Nadal withdrawing from Laver Cup only because he feels that others can play better than him, is simply weird.
It’s exhibition bro!It’s only his ego that is stopping him from retiring. The fact that he lost to Djokovic on clay in his last match. He wants a different end. pic.twitter.com/rftJyeVrUE
— Shobh🐊t (@NovakGOATovic) September 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle and former coach of the Spanish tennis player, spoke about the GOAT issue in a recent interview with Euronews. The debate, as is known, is very heated especially among the many fans of the Big 3 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Toni, during the interview, reiterated a concept he expressed a few weeks ago about the best of all time but also added other considerations, stating in the interview that in his opinion the best player of all time is Djokovic, but the one who played better was Roger Federer
“I think that without injuries, my nephew Rafa could have been the best. The best is Novak for two reasons: in the length of his career and because he won more titles than the others. I think my nephew could have been the best without injuries but in his career he happened to get injured often. But I also want to add one thing: what is seen on the court when Federer played, no one has ever done,” he said.
Toni Nadal: “Who is the best? Novak Djokovic. Because he won more titles than the others. Who could be the best without injuries? My nephew” 🧂😂 pic.twitter.com/xnYqB7KDvq
— Novak India Fans (@NovakIndiaFans) September 11, 2024