2023 is the first year Nadal and Djokovic did not play against each other since 2005

[Entername]

Fun fact of the year, this is the first time since 2005 (16 full seasons of tennis) where Rafa and Djokovic, the two all-time leaders in slams won, did not play each other in a tour match. Here are the # of times they played each other by year:

2006 - 1 (Nadal 1-0)
2007 - 7 (Nadal 5-2; Nadal 6-2 all time)
2008 - 6 (Nadal 4-2; Nadal 10-4 all time)
2009 - 7 (Nadal 4-3; Nadal 14-7 all time)
2010 - 2 (Nadal 2-0; Nadal 16-7 all time)
2011 - 6 (Djokovic 6-0; Nadal 16-13 all time)
2012 - 4 (Nadal 3-1; Nadal 19-14 all time)
2013 - 6 (Tied 3-3; Nadal 22-17 all time)
2014 - 3 (Djokovic 2-1; Nadal 23-19 all time)
2015 - 4 (Djokovic 4-0; Tied 23-23 all time)
2016 - 3 (Djokovic 3-0; Djokovic 26-23 all time)
2017 - 1 (Nadal 1-0; Djokovic 26-24 all time)
2018 - 2 (Tied 1-1; Djokovic 27-25 all time)
2019 - 2 (Tied 1-1; Djokovic 28-26 all time)
2020 - 2 (Tied 1-1; Djokovic 29-27 all time)
2021 - 2 (Tied 1-1; Djokovic 30-28 all time)
2022 - 1 (Nadal 1-0; Djokovic 30-29 all time)

This rivalry/match-up is simply insane the more you look into their numbers on top of just watching their battles on the court. For reference, Nadal-Federer met at least once/year every year from 2004-2015 (12 seasons in a row) and Djokovic-Federer met at least once/year every year from 2006-2016 (11 seasons in a row)

 

[Hitman]

Another fun fact....2010 is the only year they did not play on clay before this year.

 

[Sport]

Another fun fact... 2018 is the only year they played on grass in the last decade.

 

[DSH]

2012 Australian Open Final.
Roland Garros 2013 semi-final.
Wimbledon 2018 semi-final.

The three classics on all surfaces in Grand Slam events.

 

[Razer]

2006-2010 - Djokovic-Nadal 7-16
2011-2016 - Djokovic-Nadal 19-7
2017-2023 - Djokovic-Nadal 4-6 (Nadal dodged Djokovic outside clay)

 

[Neptune]

More matches on clay than on HC (over 60% of tournaments), lol.

 

[The Blond Blur]

2006-2010 - Djokovic-Nadal 7-16
2011-2016 - Djokovic-Nadal 19-7
2017-2023 - Djokovic-Nadal 4-6 (Nadal dodged Djokovic outside clay)

“Dodged” good grief he showed up enough during Joker’s absolute peak years. 13x to be exact in 2011, 2015-2016. This notion that RAFA avoided anyone is one of the dumber takes on this site.

 

[Razer]

“Dodged” good grief he showed up enough during Joker’s absolute peak years. 13x to be exact in 2011, 2015-2016. This notion that RAFA avoided anyone is one of the dumber takes on this site.

Why does Rafa have 60% meetings vs Nole on a surface which is like 30-35% of the tour ?

 

[The Blond Blur]

Why does Rafa have 60% meetings vs Nole on a surface which is like 30-35% of the tour ?

You referenced 2017-2023 as the period where RAFA “dodged” Joker, no? Well let’s look at that time period.

2017-mid 2018 Joker was getting beaten by every Tom, Harry, and Dick on the tour and ironically was only good enough to make it to RAFA on clay before he got his act together during the grass season. It’s a shame too since there would have been plenty of chances to get revenge on HC but Joker wasn’t making it deep enough.

2019 RAFA made both HC schlem Fs. And won an MS1000.

2020 was when the pandemic started so most of the season was canceled.

2021 RAFA was injured post-RG.

2022 Joker was banned because of his vaccination status.

And lastly RAFA missed every after the AO due to his hip injury and then surgery.

So, as you can see with actual context we can see that he wasn’t dodging anyone. If he was then he did an absolutely terrible job since like I said he played Joker 13x during his best seasons. Anyone who has the Wilanders to show up that much can’t be called disrespectful things like “Avoidal” and a “dodger”.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Why does Rafa have 60% meetings vs Nole on a surface which is like 30-35% of the tour ?

Why are we talking about this for the 98373464th time in an interesting and fresh thread? This board, smh

 

[Hitman]

You referenced 2017-2023 as the period where RAFA “dodged” Joker, no? Well let’s look at that time period.

2017-mid 2018 Joker was getting beaten by every Tom, Harry, and Dick on the tour and ironically was only good enough to make it to RAFA on clay before he got his act together during the grass season. It’s a shame too since there would have been plenty of chances to get revenge on HC but Joker wasn’t making it deep enough.

2019 RAFA made both HC schlem Fs. And won an MS1000.

2020 was when the pandemic started so most of the season was canceled.

2021 RAFA was injured post-RG.

2022 Joker was banned because of his vaccination status.

And lastly RAFA missed every after the AO due to his hip injury and then surgery.

So, as you can see with actual context we can see that he wasn’t dodging anyone. If he was then he did an absolutely terrible job since like I said he played Joker 13x during his best seasons. Anyone who has the Wilanders to show up that much can’t be called disrespectful things like “Avoidal” and a “dodger”.

While I agree with you that Nadal didn't dodge, as we saw him play Djokovic in 2015-2016 period, a couple of things here.

Firstly, you say 2021 Rafa was injured post RG and of course didn't play, which is factually true, but your statement about 2017-2018 is making it sound like Novak was playing the whole time and avoided him. Djokovic only played HC from Doha 2017 to IW 2017, he also was injured from Wimbledon onwards, could not compete and ended his season, and Miami, the tournament where he is GOAT with six titles, he had to take off because of the pain in his elbow. So you would need to apply the same level here to both. Neither could really dodge, if neither could actually play, they were simply injured and off the tour.

In 2018, I'm not sure how anyone would expect Nadal to beat Djokovic as he himself hurt his hip against Cilic in Melbourne, and didn't play any HC after AO, until post Wimbledon. You can say Canada 2018 for sure, but the mid 2018 doesn't work as Nadal was the one who was actually injured, and didn't step on court. Basically they were both in no condition to compete at a high level during that 2018 period.

 

[nolefam_2024]

So time to move on. I have already moved to Djokovic Alcaraz rivalry. But the fool that is Nole, he won't stop saying Rafa's name.

 

[The Blond Blur]

While I agree with you that Nadal didn't dodge, as we saw him play Djokovic in 2015-2016 period, a couple of things here.

Firstly, you say 2021 Rafa was injured post RG and of course didn't play, which is factually true, but your statement about 2017-2018 is making it sound like Novak was playing the whole time and avoided him. Djokovic only played HC from Doha 2017 to IW 2017, he also was injured from Wimbledon onwards, could not compete and ended his season, and Miami, the tournament where he is GOAT with six titles, he had to take off because of the pain in his elbow. So you would need to apply the same level here to both. Neither could really dodge, if neither could actually play, they were simply injured and off the tour.

In 2018, I'm not sure how anyone would expect Nadal to beat Djokovic as he himself hurt his hip against Cilic in Melbourne, and didn't play any HC after AO, until post Wimbledon. You can say Canada 2018 for sure, but the mid 2018 doesn't work as Nadal was the one who was actually injured, and didn't step on court. Basically they were both in no condition to compete at a high level during that 2018 period.

The point I was making is with actual context no one in their right mind can say that RAFA avoided Joker. All it would have taken is once loss in early 2017 and the infamous HC streak ends. Even then if you look at the circumstances surrounding it we see that they didn’t play on HC for half of those 10 years which takes a lot of air out of the “argument”. Basically RAFA was unlucky he didn’t get a chance to beat up on Crapovic the way he had to take his lumps as Crapdal.

 

[Hitman]

The point I was making is with actual context no one in their right mind can say that RAFA avoided Joker. All it would have taken is once loss in early 2017 and the infamous HC streak ends. Even then if you look at the circumstances surrounding it we see that they didn’t play on HC for half of those 10 years which takes a lot of air out of the “argument”. Basically RAFA was unlucky he didn’t get a chance to beat up on Crapovic the way he had to take his lumps as Crapdal.

I understand the point you are making, as I said, I agree with you fully that nobody is ducking anybody. I get that.

It was specifically pointing out how you were assessing all of 2017 and that mid 2018 season, in comparison to when Nadal was injured and out of it. I know you can see what I am saying there.

The HC streak talk is the same as the talk about Federer unable to beat Nadal in a slam for 10 years, we all know had Federer played Nadal during that 2015 period at lets say Wimbledon or USO, or even AO 2016, Federer would have more than likely snapped that streak. So in that sense he was also unlucky.

Them are the breaks.

 

[The Blond Blur]

I understand the point you are making, as I said, I agree with you fully that nobody is ducking anybody. I get that.

It was specifically pointing out how you were assessing all of 2017 and that mid 2018 season, in comparison to when Nadal was injured and out of it. I know you can see what I am saying there.

The HC streak talk is the same as the talk about Federer unable to beat Nadal in a slam for 10 years, we all know had Federer played Nadal during that 2015 period at lets say Wimbledon or USO, or even AO 2016, Federer would have more than likely snapped that streak. So in that sense he was also unlucky.

Them are the breaks.

Sure, at the same time when Nadavic both played HC events if 2017-mid 2018 RAFA was making it further than Joker so even if neither were physically struggling they wouldn’t have played then. And another discernible difference is the HC streak gets brought on a daily basis whereas the GS streak gets brought up once in a blue moon.

 

[Hitman]

Sure, at the same time when Nadavic both played HC events if 2017-mid 2018 RAFA was making it further than Joker so even if neither were physically struggling they wouldn’t have played then. And another discernible difference is the HC streak gets brought on a daily basis whereas the GS streak gets brought up once in a blue moon.

Hey, I'm even giving you Canada 2018 to add to that.

They played three events in 2017, and Nadal did better in two, AO 2017, Acapulco 2017. They were both eliminated at the same stage in Indian Wells, so that one doesn't matter.

Now, the guy who Djokovic lost to in Acapulco, and of course subsequently in Indian Wells, Kyrgios was in the HC form of his life, which he showed by nearly beating a very in form Federer in what many called the highest quality three set match of 2017, in the Miami semi. So there is more to it.

Granted and fully agree that Djokovic wasn't playing that great in 2017, lets also not forget he did win Doha and beat a very in form Murray in the final there.

2018, they only had AO, considering Djokovic and Nadal were on opposite sides of the draw, and both went out in back to back days, it's more of an academic thing, Djokovic lost one round earlier, both went out long before they were going to play each other. Djokovic went off to get his minor surgery to remove his bone fragments, and Nadal went home to rest his injured hip against Cilic. The one who actually lost out on beating either of them at that slam was actually Federer, who was going to play Djokovic in the semis.

As for the last part, the difference between the HC and GS streak talk is because right now, who are the two active players? which is the most intense rivalry here right now? We both know there was a time, when it was indeed that slam streak that was brought up more, and that was during Federer-Nadal 2017, 2018 and 2019 season, where they were still the top two as far as slam count goes. Not sure if you were around here before 2019, but I can testify to that being a very common occurrence.

And the end of the day, I still agree with you fully, Nadal didn't duck Djokovic, and anyone saying otherwise is simply trolling IMO.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Hey, I'm even giving you Canada 2018 to add to that.

They played three events in 2017, and Nadal did better in two, AO 2017, Acapulco 2017. They were both eliminated at the same stage in Indian Wells, so that one doesn't matter.

Now, the guy who Djokovic lost to in Acapulco, and of course subsequently in Indian Wells, Kyrgios was in the HC form of his life, which he showed by nearly beating a very in form Federer in what many called the highest quality three set match of 2017, in the Miami semi. So there is more to it.

Granted and fully agree that Djokovic wasn't playing that great in 2017, lets also not forget he did win Doha and beat a very in form Murray in the final there.

2018, they only had AO, considering Djokovic and Nadal were on opposite sides of the draw, and both went out in back to back days, it's more of an academic thing, Djokovic lost one round earlier, both went out long before they were going to play each other. Djokovic went off to get his minor surgery to remove his bone fragments, and Nadal went home to rest his injured hip against Cilic. The one who actually lost out on beating either of them at that slam was actually Federer, who was going to play Djokovic in the semis.

As for the last part, the difference between the HC and GS streak talk is because right now, who are the two active players? which is the most intense rivalry here right now? We both know there was a time, when it was indeed that slam streak that was brought up more, and that was during Federer-Nadal 2017, 2018 and 2019 season, where they were still the top two as far as slam count goes. Not sure if you were around here before 2019, but I can testify to that being a very common occurrence.

And the end of the day, I still agree with you fully, Nadal didn't duck Djokovic, and anyone saying otherwise is simply trolling IMO.

Only thing I’ll push back on here is that even when Ol’ Rog was still an active player the HC streak was brought up infinitely more often than the GS streak. Other than that yeah, people leave out context all the time to either troll or make their guy look better. Which is why I jumped in this thread in the first place.

 

[Hitman]

Only thing I’ll push back on here is that even when Ol’ Rog was still an active player the HC streak was brought up infinitely more often than the GS streak. Other than that yeah, people leave out context all the time to either troll or make their guy look better. Which is why I jumped in this thread in the first place.

I get your point. I know Nadal doesn't duck. Neither does Federer, or Djokovic, or Murray or anyone else. I am with you on that one.

In regards to your pushback, I will have to disagree with you here. But we can leave it at that.

 

[The Blond Blur]

I get your point. I know Nadal doesn't duck. Neither does Federer, or Djokovic, or Murray or anyone else. I am with you on that one.

In regards to your pushback, I will have to disagree with you here. But we can leave it at that.

Yeah definitely going to have to agree to disagree there. If I had a nickel for every time the HC streak was brought up I’d have enough to buy TTW and then perma ban all the trolls on here.

 

[Hitman]

Yeah definitely going to have to agree to disagree there. If I had a nickel for every time the HC streak was brought up I’d have enough to buy TTW and then perma ban all the trolls on here.

That's fine, we can agree to disagree, because being here in 2017-2018 at the height of the Fedal resurgence, I saw that brought up almost daily, as a counter to Federer starting to win matches against Nadal that frankly no one saw coming.

And now since we have moved from actual tennis events into our own personal perception of what happened on TTW, we'll just go round in circles. So that's me done here.

 

[The Blond Blur]

That's fine, we can agree to disagree, because being here in 2017-2018 at the height of the Fedal resurgence, I saw that brought up almost daily, as a counter to Federer starting to win matches against Nadal that frankly no one saw coming.

And now since we have moved from actual tennis events into our own personal perception of what happened on TTW, we'll just go round in circles. So that's me done here.

Cool and since I’ve been here in 2019 it’s been the other way around. See ya around