Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal: Their 7 greatest matches – ranked!
It is undoubtedly the greatest rivalry in men’s tennis history.
Over nearly two decades, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have redefined greatness, contesting some of the greatest matches the sport has ever seen.
With their Paris 2024 battle the 60th meeting between the two, we trawl back through time and rank their seven best contests.
7) 2010 US Open final: Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
This final did not go to five sets, but it was a pulsating contest – and one that was crucial for both men.
A first US Open triumph for Nadal helped him secure his place in history, becoming just the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam titles – and just the second to complete the ‘Golden Slam.’
It was a high-quality contest – disrupted by rain at one point – and the two fought tooth and nail, Nadal eventually forcing his way past a fatiguing Djokovic in the Serbian.
This match came just before the Serb’s astonishing 2011 campaign – and was an indicator of the improvements he perhaps needed to make.
6) 2011 Miami Open final: Djokovic def Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)
Djokovic won his first 41 matches in that historic 2011 season, and his win against his Spanish rival in the Miami final was one of his very best.
The then-world No 2 had beaten Nadal from a set down in the Indian Wells final two weeks previously and again found himself trailing – as the world No 1 hunted a first title at the event.
But Djokovic clawed his way back with an impressive second set and edged over the line in a final set tiebreak after an enthralling decider.
5) 2021 French Open semi-final: Djokovic def Nadal 3-6, 6-3 7-6(4), 6-2
Nadal faded physically towards the end of the contest, but there can be little doubt that the quality produced at points was among the highest we’ve ever seen between these two.
The Spaniard had only lost twice at Roland Garros, and after he claimed the opener it was tough to see what Djokovic could do to turn it around.
However, the Serbian impressed with a solid second set, and a truly extraordinary third set went his way thanks to a stunning tiebreak.
That was enough to grind Nadal down, and Djokovic became the only man to beat his main rival twice on the Spanish clay.
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4) 2009 Madrid Open semi-final: Nadal def Djokovic 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(9)
At the time the longest best-of-three men’s match of the Open Era, few tour-level contests have ever matched the intensity of this Madrid semi-final.
Nadal held a significant advantage in their head-to-head at this point, though Djokovic had the better of the opening stages.
Roared on by his home crowd, the Spaniard turned this into a proper slugfest and edged past his rival after an incredulous four hours and three minutes of tennis.
3) 2013 French Open semi-final: Nadal def Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(3), 9-7
Nadal and Djokovic have met countless times at Roland Garros – but none of their matches were as good as this.
The ‘King of Clay’ served for the match in the fourth set and, had he closed it out, it would have been remembered as an impressive, high-quality four-set contest.
But Djokovic roared back to force a decider and as he surged into a break lead in the fifth set, Nadal’s second defeat at Roland Garros looked possible.
However, on a baking hot Parisian day, Nadal turned the tide back in his favour – and edged his way over the line in a dramatic fifth set.
2) 2018 Wimbledon semi-final: Djokovic def Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9), 3-6, 10-8
This match started late in the evening and was ultimately spread over two days – but it was more than worth the wait.
Late on a Friday night, Djokovic and Nadal each claimed one impressive set, before a thrilling third set fell the way of the Serbian after perhaps the best tiebreak the two have ever played.
On resumption the next day, the Spaniard raced to the fourth set and forced a decider, but Djokovic triumphed after a high-quality, elongated decider.
1) 2012 Australian Open final: Djokovic def Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5
This is undoubtedly the best Djokovic-Nadal match – and it might be the best in men’s tennis history.
The reigning champion and the winner of three majors the previous year, Djokovic was the favourite and as he battled his way to a two-sets-to-one lead, you sensed he would run away with it.
But Nadal, as always, did not give up and forced a fifth set after an incredible tiebreak at the end of the fourth set.
It was almost impossible to separate the two but, after five hours and 53 minutes, Djokovic eventually regained the title.
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