Nadal v. Djokovic - the story. Direct matchup and instances when one couldn't make

E

eldanger25

Hall of Fame
Borrowing from RJones's thread concept, here's his tally of combined h2h encounters plus instances where only one of the two players made their appointment in a given draw over the years, as applied to the great Djokovic and Nadal rivalry. I bolded instances where they played one another.

It's also posted in the original Nadal-Federer thread, but figured this deserved its own look. Long story short, Nadal leads 63-59 overall as of Rome 2018.

Nadal-Djokovic

2005
1-0 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
2-0 (ATP Masters Series Canada, Toronto, Canada; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 64)
3-0 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )

2006
4-0 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 64)
5-0 (ATP 500 Series Barcelona, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
6-0 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 64)
7-0 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
8-0 (Wimbledon, England; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )

2007
9-0 (ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
9-1 (ATP Masters Series Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
10-1 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
11-1 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
12-1 (ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Germany; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
13-1 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
14-1 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
14-2 (ATP Masters Series Canada, Toronto, Canada; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
14-3 (US Open, NY, U.S.A.; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
14-4 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )
15-4 (ATP Masters Series Paris, France; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )
16-4 (Tennis Masters Cup, China; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 8 )

2008
16-5 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
16-6 (Dubai, U.A.E.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)
16-7 (ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
17-7 (ATP Masters Series Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
18-7 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
18-8 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
19-8 (ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Germany; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
20-8 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
21-8 (ATP 250 Series London/Queens Club, Great Britain; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 56)
22-8 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
23-8 (ATP Masters Series Canada, Toronto, Canada; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
23-9 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
24-9 (Beijing Olympics, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 64)
25-9 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )

2009
26-9 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
27-9 (Davis Cup, ESP v. SRB, WG 1st Round, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 4)
28-9 (ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
28-10 (ATP Masters Series Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
29-10 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
30-10 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
31-10 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
31-11 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
31-12 (ATP 500 Series Beijing, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)
32-12 (ATP Masters Series Shanghai, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
32-13 (ATP Masters Series Paris, France; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )
32-14 (Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, England; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 8 )

2010
33-14 (ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
34-14 (ATP Masters Series Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
35-14 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
36-14 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
37-14 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
38-14 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
39-14 (US Open, NY, U.S.A.; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
40-14 (Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, England; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 8 )

2011
40-15 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
40-16 (ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
40-17 (ATP Masters Series Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
40-18 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
40-19 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
41-19 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
41-20 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
41-21 (ATP Masters Series Canada, Toronto, Canada; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
41-22 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
41-23 (US Open, NY, U.S.A.; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )

2012
41-24 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
41-25 (ATP Masters Series Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
42-25 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
43-25 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
44-25 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )

2013
45-25 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
45-26 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
46-26 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
47-26 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
48-26 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
48-27 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
49-27 (ATP Masters Series Canada, Toronto, Canada; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
50-27 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
51-27 (US Open, NY, U.S.A.; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
51-28 (ATP 500 Series Beijing, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)
51-29 (ATP Masters Series Shanghai, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
51-30 (ATP Masters Series Paris, France; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )
51-31 (Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, England; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 8 )

2014
52-31 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128 )
52-32 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
52-33 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
52-34 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
53-34 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
53-35 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
53-36 (ATP 500 Series Beijing, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)

2015
53-37 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128)
53-38 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
53-39 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
53-40 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
53-41 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
53-42 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128 )
53-43 (Wimbledon, Great Britain; GS; Outdoor: Grass; Draw: 128 )
53-44 (ATP Masters Series Canada, Toronto, Canada; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
53-45 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
53-46 (US Open, NY, U.S.A.; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128)
53-47 (ATP 500 Series Beijing, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)
53-48 (ATP Masters Series Shanghai, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)
53-49 (ATP Masters Series Paris, France; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 48 )
53-50 (Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, England; Indoor: Hard; Draw: 8)

2016
53-51 (ATP 250 Series Doha, Qatar; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)
53-52 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128)
53-53 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells, CA, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
53-54 (ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami, FL, U.S.A.; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 96)
54-54 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
54-55 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
54-56 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
54-57 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128)
55-57 (Rio Olympics, Brazil; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 64)
55-58 (US Open, NY, U.S.A.; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128)
55-59 (ATP Masters Series Shanghai, China; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 56)

2017
56-59 (Australian Open, Australia; GS; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 128)
57-59 (ATP 500 Series Acapulco, Mexico; Outdoor: Hard; Draw: 32)
58-59 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
59-59 (ATP Masters Series Madrid, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
60-59 (Roland Garros, France; GS; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 128)

2018
61-59 (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monaco; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
62-59 (ATP 500 Series Barcelona, Spain; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)
63-59 (ATP Masters Series Rome, Italy; Outdoor: Clay; Draw: 56)

By season:

2005: Nadal 3-0
2006: Nadal 5-0
2007: Nadal 8-4
2008: Nadal 9-5
2009: Nadal 7-5
2010: Nadal 8-0
2011: Djokovic 9-1
2012: Nadal 3-2
2013: Nadal 7-6
2014: Djokovic: 5-2
2015: Djokovic: 14-0
2016: Djokovic 9-2
2017: Nadal 5-0
2018: Nadal 3-0 (so far)

Note: Djokovic was 45-15 b/w 2011 to 2016. Nadal was 40-14 through 2010. They were reasonably even from 2009 to 2014.

By event category:

Grand Slams: Nadal 19-15 (Djokovic 5-3 AO; Nadal 10-2 RG; tied 4-4 SW19; Djokovic 4-2 Open)
YEC: Djokovic, 3-2
Olympics: Nadal 2-0
Davis Cup: Nadal 1-0
MS 1000s: Tied 35-35
ATP 500 & 250 series: Djokovic 6-4

By surface:

Clay: Nadal 34-11
Grass: Nadal 5-4
Outdoor Hard: Djokovic 37-19
Indoor Hard: Djokovic, 7-5
 
Last edited:
T

tennis_commentator

Hall of Fame
Yeah the 9-3 slam head-to-head may change, but Djokovic has lost his aura/streak at the AO (and even when he had it, 6 hours was required).
While Nadal has enhanced his aura/streak at Roland Garros.

Nadal has also enhanced his US Open level, while Djokovic has never regained 2011 glory.
The thing Djokovic has in his favor now is Wimbledon, but its not easy for them to meet there (maybe next year because of the extra week's break there is more of a chance.....but still unlikely).
 
E

eldanger25

Hall of Fame
Chico said:
You are a tennis fan and you don't know what is SW19?

Anyway, ridiculous biased anti-Djokovic OP. The truth is completely different.
Click to expand...

I'm not anti-Djokovic, Chickles. I think he's an all-time great, and get a big kick out of watching him play. I particularly enjoy the way he plays with the inherent machismo of big hitters - enticing them to just keep unloading one more forehand, one more forehand, one more forehand - maybe, just maybe, this one won't come back. Even guys like Murray fall for it (think of their recent match in Beijing) - they get hypnotized, seduced by the possibilities of their own power, and nobody thinks to hit a dropper, approach the net, etc. They just keep swinging away, and the balls keep coming back, until an error is induced, and they scream at their gods in unrequited rage.

But Nadal's had a better career, no doubt. Such is life, my friend.
 
Chico

Chico

Banned
eldanger25 said:
I'm not anti-Djokovic, Chickles. I think he's an all-time great, and get a big kick out of watching him play. I particularly enjoy the way he plays with the inherent machismo of big hitters - enticing them to just keep unloading one more forehand, one more forehand, one more forehand - maybe, just maybe, this one won't come back. Even guys like Murray fall for it (think of their recent match in Beijing) - they get hypnotized, seduced by the possibilities of their own power, and nobody thinks to hit a dropper, approach the net, etc. They just keep swinging away, and the balls keep coming back, until an error is induced, and they scream at their gods in unrequited rage.

But Nadal's had a better career, no doubt. Such is life, my friend.
Click to expand...

LOL "53-36", while in real life it is 22-19. This must be a joke. No one can be that delusional.

These hypocritical posts "I don't hate Djokovic, he is a great player, but he would lose to Nadal/Federer every time they meet", are the worst.

Also Djokovic is an offensive shotmaker and a big hitter himself, not a defensive "wall" you are trying to make him to be - another example of extreme hate and underrating. :mad:

Please stop lying, my friend.
 
Last edited:
Steve0904

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Chico said:
LOL "53-36", while in real life it is 22-19. You are a joke. And you are a delusional hater indeed.

These hypocrites "I don't hate Djokovic, he is a great player, but he would lose to Nadal/Federer every time they meet", are the worst.

Also Djokovic is an offensive shotmaker and a big hitter himself, not a defensive "wall" you are trying to make him to be - another example of extreme delusion, hate and underrating. :mad:

Please stop lying, my friend.
Click to expand...

Don't hurt yourself. :)
 
The_Mental_Giant

The_Mental_Giant

Hall of Fame
Chico said:
LOL "53-36", while in real life it is 22-19. This must be a joke. No one can be that delusional.

These hypocritical posts "I don't hate Djokovic, he is a great player, but he would lose to Nadal/Federer every time they meet", are the worst.

Also Djokovic is an offensive shotmaker and a big hitter himself, not a defensive "wall" you are trying to make him to be - another example of extreme hate and underrating. :mad:

Please stop lying, my friend.
Click to expand...

23-19 not 22-19

even in stats you lie :lol:
 
Russeljones

Russeljones

Talk Tennis Guru
It's astonishing how hard Nadal hit the ground running at the start of his prime. He really is one of the outstanding teens in tennis history. If we look at the two comparisons (Nadal-Roger/Nadal-Djokovic) we will see how competitive he was at a very early age. I did expect them to have a similar number of "potential meetings" to that of Nadal-Federer, so from this point of view your analysis surprised me.

I think it's very useful to look at this in the context of some claiming that Djokovic might be the clear frontrunner in terms of the current decade. This analysis shows that it clearly isn't so.

I will revisit this after more tea enters the system.
 
Bartelby

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Once again these statistics reveal Nadal to be a true clay court specialist who has adapted to the slow court era.

And he is probably the last clay court specialist, as well.
 
E

eldanger25

Hall of Fame
Russeljones said:
It's astonishing how hard Nadal hit the ground running at the start of his prime. He really is one of the outstanding teens in tennis history. If we look at the two comparisons (Nadal-Roger/Nadal-Djokovic) we will see how competitive he was at a very early age. I did expect them to have a similar number of "potential meetings" to that of Nadal-Federer, so from this point of view your analysis surprised me.

I think it's very useful to look at this in the context of some claiming that Djokovic might be the clear frontrunner in terms of the current decade. This analysis shows that it clearly isn't so.

I will revisit this after more tea enters the system.
Click to expand...

Yeah, when you look at the absurd gap b/w the two through 2010 (I think it was like 40-14 or something), it really seems surprising that this is a comparison b/w two players born less than a year apart.

Djokovic has of course narrowed the gap some since 2011, but a 9 match difference in the last 4 years is frankly closer than I expected to see before starting to look (particularly given that Novak was/will be YE #1 for 3 of those 4 years).

And as to your last point, when you add 2010 into the mix to compare performance by decade (to the extent that's a useful metric), they're basically even, with Nadal ahead on the bigger stages (9-6 at the majors, 10-7 at the majors/YEC).

Anyway, Djokovic should probably continue to narrow the overall gap over the next few years (particularly if Nadal's body breaks down further), but Nadal gave himself quite a head start.
 
Russeljones

Russeljones

Talk Tennis Guru
Chico said:
LOL "53-36", while in real life it is 22-19. This must be a joke. No one can be that delusional.

These hypocritical posts "I don't hate Djokovic, he is a great player, but he would lose to Nadal/Federer every time they meet", are the worst.

Also Djokovic is an offensive shotmaker and a big hitter himself, not a defensive "wall" you are trying to make him to be - another example of extreme hate and underrating. :mad:

Please stop lying, my friend.
Click to expand...

http://www.letsecondserve.com/2013/04/time-between-points-and-nadal-djokovic.html

The story of an offensive shotmaker.
 
Chanwan

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
kandamrigam said:
:D

The greatest doubles pair ever would be Chico and Pascal Maria together. Great rapport and coordination :D:mrgreen: Can give Bryan bros run for their money..
Click to expand...
Haha, that would be something. I imagine Chico aiming all his serves and shots at Maria's behind, when Maria is at the net ;-)
 
E

eldanger25

Hall of Fame
Figured this could be fun to bump after a few years - I appreciated Russeljones's concept re: the Federer-Nadal appointment thread (see my post above for the link), as it seemed to offer an interesting bridge between the eternal h2h versus consistency arguments.

Anyway, we're presently at 63-59 Nadal after their latest encounter in Rome - to briefly resummarize, this concept counts (1) h2h encounters, plus (2) instances where one but not the other made it to their scheduled "appointment" based on the draw of events both entered. Nobody gets a point if neither makes their appointment.

I'll defer to RJones if he wants to update the Fed-Nadal thread, but I'd be curious to see theirs as well after Roger's recent run against his great rival.
 
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