The 29 Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal clay-court matches – after Paris 2024 showdown
It’s the rivalry that’s redefined men’s tennis.
On 60 occasions Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have faced off on court, with no men in the Open Era able to match that number of meetings.
The two have delivered some classic encounters over the years and a fair few have come on clay courts, where the two have played each other 28 times.
Nadal unsurprisingly leads the head-to-head on the dirt 20-9, proving dominant on a surface he has all but owned throughout large stages of his career.
The biggest wins for the Spaniard in these clay duels were his victories in the French Open finals of 2012 and 2014, winning in four sets on both occasions.
Nadal has beaten his Serbian rival eight times at Roland Garros, with other significant victories coming in an epic 2013 semi-final, and in their last clay meeting in 2022.
Nadal also prevailed in their epic Madrid Open semi-final in 2009 – a match that lasted for four hours – while he has also won multiple meetings at the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open.
But, despite his dominance, Djokovic has had some success, with his nine wins over Nadal on clay significantly more than anyone else has achieved.
Most recently, the Serbian prevailed in what could be their last match at the Olympic Games – surviving a late scare to win in straight sets on Monday.
Notable triumphs for the world No 1 include his wins over Nadal at the French Open in 2015 and 2021, while he snapped the Spaniard’s 42-match winning streak in Monte Carlo in the 2013 final.
Djokovic has picked up victories at all the big events of the clay circuit, even if he trails in the overall head-to-head.
Their clay meetings have spanned 18 years, with their first meeting in 2006 and the last now in 2024.
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The 28 times Djokovic and Nadal have played on clay
1) 2006 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 ret
2) 2007 Italian Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-2, 6-3
3) 2007 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 7-5, 6-4, 6-2
4) 2008 Hamburg Masters – Nadal def Djokovic 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
5) 2008 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(3)
6) 2009 Davis Cup – Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-1
7) 2009 Monte Carlo Masters – Nadal def Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
8) 2009 Italian Open – Nadal def Djokovic 7-6(2), 6-2
9) 2009 Madrid Open – Nadal def Djokovic 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(9)
10) 2011 Madrid Open – Djokovic def Nadal 7-5, 6-4
11) 2011 Italian Open – Djokovic def Nadal 6-4, 6-4
12) 2012 Monte Carlo Masters – Nadal def Djokovic 6-3, 6-1
13) 2012 Italian Open – Nadal def Djokovic 7-5, 6-3
14) 2012 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
15) 2013 Monte Carlo Masters – Djokovic def Nadal 6-2, 7-6(1)
16) 2013 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7
17) 2014 Italian Open – Djokovic def Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
18) 2014 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
19) 2015 Monte Carlo Masters – Djokovic def Nadal 6-3, 6-3
20) 2015 French Open – Djokovic def Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
21) 2016 Italian Open – Djokovic def Nadal 7-5, 7-6(4)
22) 2017 Madrid Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-2, 6-4
23) 2018 Italian Open – Nadal def Djokovic 7-6(4), 6-3
24) 2019 Italian Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
25) 2020 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
26) 2021 Italian Open – Nadal def Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
27) 2021 French Open – Djokovic def Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2
28) 2022 French Open – Nadal def Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)
29) 2024 Olympic Games – Djokovic def Nadal 6-1, 6-4