adminLONDON. — In 2013, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal took their historic rivalry to new all-time heights on the men’s professional tennis tour. Firstly, they set the new Open Era record for the most meetings between any two rivals in history at 39 total meetings. Additionally, the two players brought their total meetings in a final up to 19, one short of the existing record.
Aside from those impressive numbers in 2013, Djokovic and Nadal already held the record for the longest Grand Slam final in the modern era at 5 hours, 53 minutes in Australia.
It’s mind-boggling to think that they are both just a shade past their mid-20s, which suggests together they could set some truly insurmountable records by the time it’s all said and done.
Considering all these two have gone through together on a tennis court, it’s certain they know each other’s on-court personalities about as well as anyone possibly could. They’ve passed side-by-side into history through some of the best and worst moments in each other’s respective careers.
For Nadal, there was probably no lower moment than when he lost the fifth set of that final in Australia to Djokovic in 2012 — his third straight loss in a major final against the Serb. In that one, Nadal even held a solid lead at one point in the last set, before ultimately succumbing to the seemingly endless reserves of Djokovic.
Nadal did bounce back and subsequently defeat Djokovic during both the final and semifinal of the French Open during 2012 and 2013.
Djokovic was on a quest to complete the career Grand Slam during both of those matches, and surely felt emotional turmoil after failing on both occasions.
Each player has also witnessed some of his rival’s greatest moments. Djokovic was on court in New York recently when Nadal won his second career US Open title after a long layoff from the game. An injury sabbatical in which Nadal must have surely questioned his continuing ability to play at such a high level on hard court.
Likewise, Nadal was present when Djokovic finally won the title at Wimbledon in 2011. — AFP.
Online Reporter