Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Rivalry: The famous rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal is one of the most exciting in tennis. Both are legends of the sport, and their matches have shaped modern tennis. Right now, Djokovic leads Nadal 31-29, showing how closely they compete.
Rafael Nadal is known as the “King of Clay”. He is known for his heavy topspin and physical strength. He is dominant at the French Open, where he holds the record with 14 titles.
On the other hand, Novak Djokovic is known for his all-around skills on all surfaces, his mental toughness, and his return game. He’s praised for his consistency and his ability to change the pace of the game, making him successful at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Their matches have produced some of the best tennis moments. One of the most memorable was the 2012 Australian Open final, which lasted nearly six hours and went to a fifth set, with Djokovic winning. Another epic match was the 2018 Wimbledon semi-final, which also went over five sets, with Djokovic coming out on top. Their most recent match was in the 2021 French Open semi-final, where Djokovic defeated Nadal on clay, a surface where Nadal is usually unbeatable.
Off the court, they respect each other and are good friends, often congratulating each other on their achievements. Their rivalry is not just about competition; it’s about respect, performance, and dedication. Their matches are now part of tennis history, inspiring fans around the world.
Read: Big Three
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Rivalry
In this article we talks about the rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal throughout their careers.
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Grand Slam Rivalry
Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles, and Nadal has 22.
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 10 | 2 |
| French Open | 3 | 14 |
| Wimbledon | 7 | 2 |
| US Open | 4 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 24 | 22 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal ATP Masters Rivalry
Nadal, with 36 Masters titles, is the second most successful player in this category. He has won 26 Masters titles on clay and 10 on hard courts.
Djokovic holds the record with most Masters titles around 40. He has won 29 Masters titles on hard courts and 11 on clay. He is the only player today with 9 active Masters titles and has achieved the Career Golden Masters twice.
Nadal, however, is missing two tournaments from his collection: Miami and Paris.
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Wells Masters | 5 | 3 |
| Miami Open | 6 | 0 |
| Monte-Carlo Masters | 2 | 11 |
| Madrid Open | 3 | 4 |
| German Open | 0 | 1 |
| Italian Open | 6 | 10 |
| Canadian Open | 4 | 5 |
| Cincinnati Masters | 3 | 1 |
| Shanghai Masters | 4 | 0 |
| Madrid Open | 0 | 1 |
| Paris Masters | 7 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 40 | 36 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal ATP World Tour Final
In ATP World Tour Final Novak Djokovic has 7 final while Rafael Nadal has not ATP World Tour Final.
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| ATP World Tour Final | 7 | 0 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal ATP/ITF Rankings
In the ATP/ITF rankings, Novak Djokovic has been world No. 1 for 428 weeks, while Rafael Nadal has held the top spot for 209 weeks. Djokovic has finished as the ATP Year-end No. 1 eight times, while Nadal has done so five times.
| Rankings | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks as world No. 1 | 428 | 209 |
| ATP Year-end No. 1 | 8 | 5 |
| ITF World Champion | 8 | 5 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Awards
Novak Djokovic has total of 21 awards vs Rafael Nadal has 23 awards.
| Award | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| ATP Sportsmanship award | 0 | 5 |
| ATP Fan Favorite | 0 | 1 |
| ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the year | 1 | 1 |
| ATP Most Improved Player of the year | 2 | 1 |
| ATP Comeback Player of the year | 1 | 1 |
| ATP Newcomer of the year | 0 | 1 |
| Laureus Sportsman of the year | 5 | 2 |
| Laureus Comeback Player of the year | 0 | 1 |
| ESPY Best International Athlete | 0 | 1 |
| ESPY Best Male Tennis Player | 6 | 3 |
| BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the year | 1 | 1 |
| L’Équipe Champion of Champions | 2 | 4 |
| Marca Leyenda Sport Professional of the year | 1 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 21 | 23 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal National and International Representation
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Medals | 2 | 2 |
| Davis Cup | 1 | 4 |
| ATP Cup | 1 | 0 |
| Hopman Cup | 0 | – |
| Laver Cup | 1 | 2 |
| United Cup | 0 | 0 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Head-to-Head Tallies
The two have faced off 60 times, with Djokovic slightly ahead, having won 31 matches to Nadal’s 29.
Here’s a breakdown of their head-to-head record across different surfaces, tournaments, and scenarios:
- All matches (60): Djokovic, 31–29
- All finals (28): Djokovic, 15–13
- Grand Slam matches: Nadal, 11–7
- Australian Open: Djokovic, 2–0
- French Open: Nadal, 8–2
- Wimbledon: Djokovic, 2–1
- US Open: Nadal, 2–1
- Grand Slam finals: Nadal, 5–4
- Australian Open: Djokovic, 2–0
- French Open: Nadal, 3–0
- Wimbledon: Djokovic, 1–0
- US Open: Nadal, 2–1
- ATP Finals matches: Djokovic, 3–2
- ATP Finals finals: Djokovic, 1–0
- ATP Masters matches: Djokovic, 16–13
- ATP Masters finals: Tied 7–7
- Olympic matches: Tied 1–1
- Team events: Tied 1–1
- Other matches: Djokovic, 3–1
- Other finals: Djokovic, 3–1
Results on Each Court Surface
Djokovic’s dominance on hard courts and Nadal’s supremacy on clay create a fascinating dynamic that makes their matchups unpredictable. Each encounter between them highlights their athleticism, strategy, and mental strength, turning their rivalry into a key chapter in tennis history.
Clay Courts: Nadal 20–9
As the “King of Clay,” Nadal’s strength on this surface is evident. However, Novak Djokovic is one of the few players who has been able to challenge and beat Nadal many times on clay, including at the French Open.
Hard Courts: Djokovic 20–7
Djokovic is very strong on hard courts, especially on slower surfaces the ones at the Australian Open. This shows his great return game and ability to adapt to the surface.
Grass Courts: Tied 2–2
Their matches on grass are rare but important, with Djokovic winning key games at Wimbledon, including their famous 2018 semi-final.
Outdoor: Djokovic 16–5
Indoor: Djokovic 4–2
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Tournament Overview
From Grand Slams to ATP Masters 1000 events, ATP Finals, and team competitions, their matches have greatly contributed to the sport’s history.
Here is an overview of the tournaments between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
| Tournament | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 2 | 0 |
| French Open | 2 | 8 |
| Wimbledon | 2 | 1 |
| US Open | 1 | 2 |
| Indian Wells Masters | 3 | 1 |
| Miami Open | 3 | 0 |
| Monte-Carlo Masters | 2 | 2 |
| Italian Open | 3 | 6 |
| German Open / Madrid Open | 1 | 3 |
| Canadian Open | 1 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Masters | 2 | 0 |
| Paris Masters | 1 | 0 |
| ATP Tour Finals | 3 | 2 |
| China Open | 2 | 0 |
| Queen’s Club | 0 | 1 |
| Qatar Open | 1 | 0 |
| Davis Cup | 0 | 1 |
| ATP Cup | 1 | 0 |
| Olympic Games | 1 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 31 | 29 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Completed Set Tallies
| Djokovic | Set score | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10–8 | 0 |
| 0 | 9–7 | 1 |
| 9 | 7–6 | 10 |
| 7 | 7–5 | 10 |
| 13 | 6–4 | 21 |
| 28 | 6–3 | 9 |
| 15 | 6–2 | 12 |
| 8 | 6–1 | 8 |
| 0 | 6–0 | 2 |
| 78 | Total Sets | 72 |
| 753 | Total Games | 723 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Completed Set Tallies
| Year | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | – | 811 |
| 2002 | – | 200 |
| 2003 | 679 | 49 |
| 2004 | 186 | 51 |
| 2005 | 78 | 2 |
| 2006 | 16 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 | 9 |
| 2017 | 12 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 | 670 |
| 2024 | – |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal ATP Tour Career Earnings
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are two of the highest-earning players in tennis history. Their career earnings show their long-term dominance in nearly 20 years of competition. Here is a comparison of their career earnings:
| Year | Djokovic | Nadal |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | – | $857 |
| 2002 | – | $23,975 |
| 2003 | $2,704 | $243,238 |
| 2004 | $40,790 | $447,758 |
| 2005 | $202,416 | $3,874,751 |
| 2006 | $644,940 | $3,746,360 |
| 2007 | $3,927,700 | $5,646,935 |
| 2008 | $5,689,078 | $6,773,776 |
| 2009 | $5,476,472 | $6,466,515 |
| 2010 | $4,278,856 | $10,171,999 |
| 2011 | $12,619,803 | $7,668,217 |
| 2012 | $12,803,739 | $4,997,450 |
| 2013 | $12,447,947 | $14,570,937 |
| 2014 | $14,269,463 | $6,746,475 |
| 2015 | $21,146,145 | $4,508,891 |
| 2016 | $14,138,824 | $2,836,500 |
| 2017 | $2,116,524 | $15,864,000 |
| 2018 | $15,967,184 | $8,663,347 |
| 2019 | $13,372,355 | $16,349,586 |
| 2020 | $46,511,233 | $3,881,202 |
| 2021 | $9,100,547 | $1,478,830 |
| 2022 | $9,934,582 | $9,368,326 |
| 2023 | $15,952,044 | $311,604 |
| 2024 | $4,421,915 | $305,379 |
| TOTAL | 185,065,269 | $134,946,100 |
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal Significant Achievements
- Only two male players in the Open Era have played 60 matches against each other.
- Only two male players in the Open Era have faced each other in 28 finals.
- Only two male players have won 59+ Big Titles.
- Only two male players have won 22+ Grand Slam titles.
- Only two male players have won a single Grand Slam at least 10 times: Nadal at the French Open and Djokovic at the Australian Open.
- Only two male players have won 36+ Masters titles.
- Only two male players have completed multiple Career Grand Slams on all three surfaces.
- Only two male players have achieved a Surface Slam.
- Most Grand Slam tournament meetings: 18 times.
- Most Grand Slam finals: 9 (tied with Federer–Nadal).
- Only two players to have met 29 times in ATP Masters tournaments.
- Only two players to have faced each other 10 times in a single tournament (French Open).
- Longest title streak at a single Masters tournament: 11 consecutive titles in Rome (2005–2015), with Nadal winning 7 and Djokovic winning 4.
- Longest finals streak at a single Masters tournament: 18 consecutive finals in Rome (2005–2022).
- Only two players to hold all 9 ATP Masters titles at once (2013 Monte-Carlo to 2014 Miami), with Djokovic winning 5 and Nadal winning 4.
- Longest Grand Slam final: 2012 Australian Open, lasting 5 hours and 53 minutes.
- Longest three-set match in the Open Era, with a tiebreak in the deciding set (2009 Madrid Masters).
- Only male pair to meet in four consecutive Grand Slam finals (2011 Wimbledon to 2012 French Open).
- First male pair to meet in all four Grand Slam finals (later matched by Djokovic and Murray).
- Most consecutive seasons in the Open Era to play a Grand Slam final: 5 seasons (2010–2014).
- Doubles team made up of the singles No. 1 and No. 2 (also shared with Connors and Ashe).
- Djokovic and Nadal hold the record for the most titles in their respective favourite Grand Slam tournaments: Nadal at the French Open and Djokovic at the Australian Open. Neither player has lost a final in those events.
- First pair to win Grand Slams in three different decades: 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.
- Oldest pair in the Open Era to play a French Open final (2020): Nadal, 34, and Djokovic, 33, combined age of 67.