Introduction
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, both big men are considered the goat of tennis. The Rivalry between Nadal and Djokovic is one of the best and the greatest remarkable rivalry in tennis history. It is listed as the third greatest rivalry in the 2000s decade by the ATP on 2009.
The great men have faced each other on the court 59 times, which includes 27 times on hard courts, 28 have been on clay, and 4 have been on grass. The king of the clay, Rafael Nadal leads on clay surfaces (20–8), while Djokovic leads on hard courts (20–7). Both have equal scores on grass (2–2).
From Wimbledon 2011 to Roland Garros 2012, they competed against each other in four consecutive major finals, becoming them the only male partnership in Open Era history to do so.
Some of their matchups, like the 2009 Madrid Masters semifinal, the 2012 Australian Open final, and the 2021 French Open semifinal, are considered classics and among the best matches in history. The 2012 Australian Open stands as the best and most extraordinary match of all time where the Serbian took the title with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.
Nadal vs Djokovic stats
| Factor | Rafael Nadal | Djokovic Stats |
| Age | 36 | 35 |
| Birth Date | June 03, 1986, | May 22, 1987, |
| Nationality | Spain | Serbia |
| Weight | 85 Kg | 77kg |
| Height | 6'1" | 6’2” |
| Turned Pro | 2001 | 2003 |
| Years on Tour | 21 | 19 |
| Plays | Left-Handed | Right-Handed |
| Backhand | double-Handed | Double-handed |
| ATP Ranking | 3 | 7 |
| YTD W/L | 35-3 | 23-5 |
| Career W/L | 1063-212 | 1012-204 |
| YTD Titles | 4 | 2 |
| Career Titles | 92 | 88 |
| Career Prize Money | $131,338,131 | $158,996,253 |
Nadal vs Djokovic Head to Head: Singles
| Year | Event | Surface | Winner | Result |
| 2022 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-2,4-6,6-2,7-6 |
| 2021 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 3-6,6-3,7-6,6-2 |
| 2021 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 7-5,1-6,6-3 |
| 2020 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-0,6-2,7-5 |
| 2020 | ATP Cup | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6–2, 7–6 |
| 2019 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-0,4-6,6-1 |
| 2019 | Australian Open | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-2,6-3 |
| 2018 | Wimbledon | Outdoor Grass | Novak Djokovic | 6-4,3-6,7-6,3-6,10-8 |
| 2018 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 7-6,6-3 |
| 2017 | ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-2,6-4 |
| 2016 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 7-5,7-6 |
| 2016 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 7-6,6-2 |
| 2016 | Doha | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-1,6-2 |
| 2015 | ATP Finals | Indoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-3 |
| 2015 | Beijing | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-2,6-2 |
| 2015 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 7-5,6-3,6-1 |
| 2015 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-3 |
| 2014 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 3-6,7-5,6-2,6-4 |
| 2014 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 4-6,6-3,6-3 |
| 2014 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-3 |
| 2013 | ATP Finals | Indoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-4 |
| 2013 | Beijing Open | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-4 |
| 2013 | US Open | Outdoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6-2,3-6,6-4,6-1 |
| 2013 | ATP Masters 1000 Canada | Outdoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,3-6,7-6 |
| 2013 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,3-6,6-1,6-7,9-7 |
| 2013 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 6-2,7-6 |
| 2012 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,6-3,2-6,7-5 |
| 2012 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 7-5,6-3 |
| 2012 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-3,6-1 |
| 2012 | Australian Open | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 5-7,6-4,6-2,6-7,7-5 |
| 2011 | US Open | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-2,6-4,6-7,6-1 |
| 2011 | Wimbledon | Outdoor Grass | Novak Djokovic | 6-4,6-1,1-6,6-3 |
| 2011 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 6-4,6-4 |
| 2011 | ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Outdoor Clay | Novak Djokovic | 7-5,6-4 |
| 2011 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 4-6,6-3,7-6 |
| 2011 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 4-6,6-3,6-2 |
| 2010 | ATP Finals | Indoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 7-5,6-2 |
| 2010 | US Open | Outdoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,5-7,6-4,6-2 |
| 2009 | ATP Finals | Indoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 7-6,6-3 |
| 2009 | ATP Masters 1000 Paris | Indoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | |
| 2009 | ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-1,6-4 |
| 2009 | ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 3-6,7-6,7-6 |
| 2009 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 7-6,6-2 |
| 2009 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-3,2-6,6-1 |
| 2009 | ESP vs. SRB WG 1st RD | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,6-4,6-1 |
| 2008 | Beijing Olympics | Outdoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,1-6,6-4 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-1,7-5 |
| 2008 | London / Queen's Club | Outdoor Grass | Rafael Nadal | 7-6,7-5 |
| 2008 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,6-2,7-6 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters 1000 Hamburg | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 7-5,2-6,6-2 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-2 |
| 2007 | Tennis Masters Cup | Indoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,6-4 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters 1000 Canada | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 7-5,6-3 |
| 2007 | Wimbledon | Outdoor Grass | Rafael Nadal | 3-6,6-1,4-1 |
| 2007 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 7-5,6-4,6-2 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-2,6-3 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Outdoor Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3,6-4 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Outdoor Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6-2,7-5 |
| 2006 | Roland Garros | Outdoor Clay | Rafael Nadal | 6-4,6-4 |
Nadal vs Djokovic Head to Head: Doubles
| Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score | Opponents |
| 2009 | Canadian Open | Hard | Nadal/Roig | 7–5, 6–4 | Djokovic/Vemić |
| 2015 | Qatar Open | Hard | Nadal/Mónaco | 7–6(7–3), 6–1 | Djokovic/Krajinović |
Nadal & Djokovic: As a Pair
| Year | Tournament | Surface | Pair | Score | Winner |
| 2010 | Canadian Open | Hard | Djokovic/Nadal | 7–5, 3–6, [8–10] | Pospisil/Raonic |
Player FAQs
What is Djokovic’s record over Nadal?
The big men considered to be the greatest of all time have faced each other 59 times. Djokovic has seen a total career victory with 30 titles, while on the other hand Nadal with 29 titles.
How many times did Nadal beat Djokovic?
The Spanish defeated the Serbian in 7 Masters and 5 Grand Slam finals
What did Djokovic say about Nadal in the French Open Quarter-final 2022?
Nadal defeated Djokovic in the 2022 Frech Open quarterfinals with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6. After the defeat Djokovic verbalized “ Lost to a better player, I know I could have played better. I'm proud of fighting and staying till the last shot”.
