The rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic is considered one of the greatest rivalries in the history of tennis. Nadal's unparalleled success on clay, while Djokovic holds a slight edge at the Australian Open, has captivated audiences worldwide. The duo has contested at least one professional match every year from 2006 to 2022. Recently, Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis in October 10, 2024, potentially ending an iconic rivalry. He also competed in the 6 Kings Slam exhibition, losing against Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Rafael Nadal was defeated by Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands by 6-4, 6-4 in the singles quarterfinals of the 2024 Davis Cup.
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Grand Slam Record
Novak Djokovic has 24 Grand Slam titles, compared to Rafael Nadal's 22 major titles.
Nadal has won a total of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including the Australian Open twice (2009, 2022), the French Open 14 times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022), Wimbledon twice (2008, 2010), and the US Open four times (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019).
While Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, including ten at the Australian Open (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), three at the French Open (2016, 2021, 2023), seven at Wimbledon (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), and three at the US Open (2011, 2015, 2018, 2023).
Also Read: How many times has Nadal won Wimbledon?
The Novak Djokovic–Rafael Nadal rivalry
The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal is regarded as one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history by many tennis analysts, players, and coaches. The pair have played at least one professional match each year since 2006.
They have faced off 59 times, including in each of the Grand Slam finals, with Djokovic holding a 30-29 overall advantage. Nadal leads 11-7 in the majors, including 5-4 in major finals, while Djokovic leads 15-13 in finals at all levels. While Djokovic leads 2-0 at the Australian Open and 2-1 at Wimbledon, Nadal leads 8-2 at the French Open and 2-1 at the US Open.
Djokovic is the only player to date to have defeated Nadal in all four major tournaments. In their 59 meetings, they have played 27 times on hard courts, with Djokovic winning 20-7; 28 times on clay, with Nadal winning 20-8; and 4 times on grass, where they are tied 2-2.
Some of their matches, such as the 2009 Madrid Masters semifinal, the 2011 Miami Masters final, the 2012 Australian Open final, the 2013 French Open semifinal, the 2018 Wimbledon semifinal, and the 2021 French Open semifinal, are regarded as one of the best matches of all time.
When Was Rafael Nadal’s Last Match Against Novak Djokovic?
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal met in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open for the third year in a row and the tenth time overall. Ultimately, Nadal won the title for the 14th time in four sets. After this, they met at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Djokovic triumphed and went on to win the gold medal some days later.
FAQs on Has Rafael Nadal won more Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic?
A. No, Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles, compared to Rafael Nadal's 22 titles as of 2024.
A. It is subjective, but Djokovic is ranked No. 4 as of October 2024 and has a slightly better head-to-head record against Nadal.
A. Their last match was in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open, which Nadal won in four sets.
A. Novak Djokovic has defeated Rafael Nadal most number of times in his tennis career.
A. Novak Djokovic leads Rafael Nadal by 31-29 in their head-to-head encounters.
A. Rafael Nadal announced his retirement on October 10, 2024, stating that he will play his last match at the 2024 Davis Cup for Spain.
