Beating Rafael Nadal is the toughest challenge in sport, not just tennis, says Novak Djokovic

ATP Tour
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2011

Beating Rafael Nadal is the biggest challenge in the whole of sport, never mind just tennis, says Novak Djokovic.

Djokivic beat Nadal in the semi-finals en-route to winning Wimbledon last month, so he is no stranger to the challenge after years together on the ATP Tour.

However, even after all these years, he still can’t envisage a tougher task in sport than to beat Nadal.

“I think we both are very pleased that we’re able to play at this level,” said the Serb.

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“And Rafa being No 1 in the world, deservedly so, is always probably the biggest challenge that you can face in sport, facing him on clay. Any other tournament, but especially on clay.

“Wimbledon semi-finals was definitely one the best, most exciting matches that I was part of, and that’s not uncommon with Nadal. We had plenty of those in the past.

“It was so even that it really could have gone either way.

“And until the last shot, I didn’t know whether I was going to win.

“I believed I could, but yeah. It was a really thrilling match and just one of the matches that I’ll never forget and carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal

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