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A recap of every match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal...
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic met for a record-extending 57th time in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final on 16 May. Nadal won his 10th Rome crown after his fifth straight clay-court win over Djokovic to equal the Serbian’s record of 36 ATP Masters 1000 trophies.
Djokovic’s lead in their legendary ATP Head2Head rivalry now stands at 29-28. It was their first meeting since Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2020 Roland Garros final. The two legends have now won 15 of the past 17 Rome editions.
ATPTour.com breaks down a history of the duo's 57 career matches:
2021 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
Sixteen years on from beating Guillermo Coria over five sets for the 2005 Rome title, Nadal captured his 10th crown in the Eternal City with a disciplined performance over two hours and 49 minutes. Despite multiple momentum shifts in the championship clash, Nadal has now won 102 straight clay-court matches after winning the first set.
In a closely fought first set, Nadal recovered from 0-2 down and took his chance at 5-5, with a forehand winner down the line. With a dip in Nadal’s intensity, noticeably his groundstroke length, Djokovic reeled off five straight games from 1-1 in the second set. Having saved two break points at 2-2 in the decider, Nadal claimed 12 of the next 13 points to seize control of the final.
Nadal, who has now won 62 of his 88 career titles on clay, struck 26 of his 37 winners off his forehand wing. Read Match Report
2020 Roland Garros Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
Djokovic won the Internazionali BNL d'Italia leading into Roland Garros, and when he reached the Paris final, the Serbian had a 37-1 record on the 2020 season. But that mattered little to Nadal, who played an extraordinary match to defeat the top seed in two hours and 41 minutes. Nadal had not beaten Djokovic in straight sets at a Grand Slam since the 2008 Roland Garros semi-finals, and this was the Spaniard's most lopsided win at a major in their rivalry.
Nadal deserves credit for his relentless offence from the baseline. Not only did the lefty crush 31 winners in the match, but he only made 14 unforced errors. The more you go for it, the more often you typically miss. But on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Spaniard barely missed at all.
Djokovic was trying to win his 18th Grand Slam title and his second trophy at Roland Garros. He could have become the first man in the Open Era to complete two Career Grand Slams, but 52 unforced errors were his undoing. Read Match Report
2020 ATP Cup Final, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-2, 7-6(4)
Entering the inaugural ATP Cup final, Djokovic had won 17 consecutive sets on hard courts against his Spanish rival. The Serbian continued that trend inside Ken Rosewall Arena in front of a raucous crowd, getting off to a quick start and never looking back against the World No. 1.
This match was critical for not only Djokovic, but also for his country. When the World No. 2 and Nadal walked on the court, Spain held a 1-0 lead in the tie. But Djokovic was up for the task, winning all but four service points in the opener to storm through the first set in 39 minutes.
The second set lasted nearly twice as long (76 minutes), as Nadal ramped up the aggression to put the pressure on Djokovic. The Spaniard serve-and-volleyed 10 times, winning eight of those points, after employing the tactic just once in the first set. But Djokovic completed his undefeated singles run at the ATP Cup by remaining calm in the second-set tie-break, winning his sixth match from six tries in Brisbane and Sydney combined.
2019 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
Nadal entered his 50th Masters 1000 final pursuing his first trophy of any kind in 2019. The Spaniard had not taken that long to win a title since 2004, the year he claimed his first tour-level victory.
But Nadal would not be denied against Djokovic, the top seed. Although the Serbian saved all four break points he faced in the second set to force a decider, Nadal earned 17 break points in the match, and that proved the difference. Nadal won a higher rate of his second-serve points (61%) than Djokovic did his first-serve points (60%), helping him earn a title for the 16th consecutive year.
Djokovic spent two hours and 12 minutes of more time on court than Nadal entering the final, and that showed in his slow start as well as in the third set. The Serbian used his drop shot well throughout the week, but lost many of those points against Nadal with the trophy on the line, and the Spaniard showed no hesitation from the baseline, especially with his forehand down the line.
2019 Australian Open Final, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
In an eagerly anticipated match-up, a repeat of their 2012 final in Melbourne Park, Djokovic started with a bang to win the first three games. Nadal, with his refined service motion and potent forehand, was unable to create an opening and through two sets Djokovic had lost just six of his service points and committed four unforced errors. Nadal continued to fight and created his lone break point at 2-3, 30/40 in the third set, but Djokovic was in irresistible form and put together one of the best performances of his career.
In capturing his 15th Grand Slam championship crown, the 73rd tour-level trophy of his career, the Serbian broke a tie with Pete Sampras (14). It was also a record-breaking seventh trophy at the Australian Open, moving past Roy Emerson and Roger Federer. Read Match Report
2018 Wimbledon SF, grass, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9), 3-6, 10-8
It was clear that Djokovic had climbed closer to his best form ahead of the pair's semi-final at The Championships, hanging tough against Nadal in Rome, reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals and finishing runner-up at The Queen's Club. But could the Serbian overcome the greatest challenge of his comeback from a right elbow injury against World No. 1 Nadal, who was 35-2 on the season?
It turned out that the great rivals were evenly matched, with Djokovic saving five break points in a thrilling fifth set before triumphing after five hours and 15 minutes. And fittingly, they both hit 73 winners to just 42 unforced errors in the classic.
Djokovic earned his first Grand Slam semi-final win against Nadal to reach his fifth Wimbledon final, claiming the signature victory of his comeback to advance to his first major championship match since the 2016 US Open. Nadal had won 16 consecutive matches in the last four at Slams, but he bowed out after making his deepest run at the All England Club since 2011, when he lost in the final.
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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic met for a record-extending 57th time in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final on 16 May. Nadal won his 10th Rome crown after his fifth straight clay-court win over Djokovic to equal the Serbian’s record of 36 ATP Masters 1000 trophies.
Djokovic’s lead in their legendary ATP Head2Head rivalry now stands at 29-28. It was their first meeting since Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2020 Roland Garros final. The two legends have now won 15 of the past 17 Rome editions.
ATPTour.com breaks down a history of the duo's 57 career matches:
2021 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
Sixteen years on from beating Guillermo Coria over five sets for the 2005 Rome title, Nadal captured his 10th crown in the Eternal City with a disciplined performance over two hours and 49 minutes. Despite multiple momentum shifts in the championship clash, Nadal has now won 102 straight clay-court matches after winning the first set.
In a closely fought first set, Nadal recovered from 0-2 down and took his chance at 5-5, with a forehand winner down the line. With a dip in Nadal’s intensity, noticeably his groundstroke length, Djokovic reeled off five straight games from 1-1 in the second set. Having saved two break points at 2-2 in the decider, Nadal claimed 12 of the next 13 points to seize control of the final.
Nadal, who has now won 62 of his 88 career titles on clay, struck 26 of his 37 winners off his forehand wing. Read Match Report
2020 Roland Garros Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
Djokovic won the Internazionali BNL d'Italia leading into Roland Garros, and when he reached the Paris final, the Serbian had a 37-1 record on the 2020 season. But that mattered little to Nadal, who played an extraordinary match to defeat the top seed in two hours and 41 minutes. Nadal had not beaten Djokovic in straight sets at a Grand Slam since the 2008 Roland Garros semi-finals, and this was the Spaniard's most lopsided win at a major in their rivalry.
Nadal deserves credit for his relentless offence from the baseline. Not only did the lefty crush 31 winners in the match, but he only made 14 unforced errors. The more you go for it, the more often you typically miss. But on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Spaniard barely missed at all.
Djokovic was trying to win his 18th Grand Slam title and his second trophy at Roland Garros. He could have become the first man in the Open Era to complete two Career Grand Slams, but 52 unforced errors were his undoing. Read Match Report
2020 ATP Cup Final, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-2, 7-6(4)
Entering the inaugural ATP Cup final, Djokovic had won 17 consecutive sets on hard courts against his Spanish rival. The Serbian continued that trend inside Ken Rosewall Arena in front of a raucous crowd, getting off to a quick start and never looking back against the World No. 1.
This match was critical for not only Djokovic, but also for his country. When the World No. 2 and Nadal walked on the court, Spain held a 1-0 lead in the tie. But Djokovic was up for the task, winning all but four service points in the opener to storm through the first set in 39 minutes.
The second set lasted nearly twice as long (76 minutes), as Nadal ramped up the aggression to put the pressure on Djokovic. The Spaniard serve-and-volleyed 10 times, winning eight of those points, after employing the tactic just once in the first set. But Djokovic completed his undefeated singles run at the ATP Cup by remaining calm in the second-set tie-break, winning his sixth match from six tries in Brisbane and Sydney combined.
2019 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
Nadal entered his 50th Masters 1000 final pursuing his first trophy of any kind in 2019. The Spaniard had not taken that long to win a title since 2004, the year he claimed his first tour-level victory.
But Nadal would not be denied against Djokovic, the top seed. Although the Serbian saved all four break points he faced in the second set to force a decider, Nadal earned 17 break points in the match, and that proved the difference. Nadal won a higher rate of his second-serve points (61%) than Djokovic did his first-serve points (60%), helping him earn a title for the 16th consecutive year.
Djokovic spent two hours and 12 minutes of more time on court than Nadal entering the final, and that showed in his slow start as well as in the third set. The Serbian used his drop shot well throughout the week, but lost many of those points against Nadal with the trophy on the line, and the Spaniard showed no hesitation from the baseline, especially with his forehand down the line.
2019 Australian Open Final, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
In an eagerly anticipated match-up, a repeat of their 2012 final in Melbourne Park, Djokovic started with a bang to win the first three games. Nadal, with his refined service motion and potent forehand, was unable to create an opening and through two sets Djokovic had lost just six of his service points and committed four unforced errors. Nadal continued to fight and created his lone break point at 2-3, 30/40 in the third set, but Djokovic was in irresistible form and put together one of the best performances of his career.
In capturing his 15th Grand Slam championship crown, the 73rd tour-level trophy of his career, the Serbian broke a tie with Pete Sampras (14). It was also a record-breaking seventh trophy at the Australian Open, moving past Roy Emerson and Roger Federer. Read Match Report
2018 Wimbledon SF, grass, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9), 3-6, 10-8
It was clear that Djokovic had climbed closer to his best form ahead of the pair's semi-final at The Championships, hanging tough against Nadal in Rome, reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals and finishing runner-up at The Queen's Club. But could the Serbian overcome the greatest challenge of his comeback from a right elbow injury against World No. 1 Nadal, who was 35-2 on the season?
It turned out that the great rivals were evenly matched, with Djokovic saving five break points in a thrilling fifth set before triumphing after five hours and 15 minutes. And fittingly, they both hit 73 winners to just 42 unforced errors in the classic.
Djokovic earned his first Grand Slam semi-final win against Nadal to reach his fifth Wimbledon final, claiming the signature victory of his comeback to advance to his first major championship match since the 2016 US Open. Nadal had won 16 consecutive matches in the last four at Slams, but he bowed out after making his deepest run at the All England Club since 2011, when he lost in the final.
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Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal: The Rivalry | ATP Tour | Tennis
For the record 59th time in their ATP Head2Head series, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will meet again, this time in the Roland Garros quarter-finals.