The Djokovic-Nadal rivalry remains one of the greatest in sports history. While many classics are already part of tennis lore, recent years have added nuance to their scores, status, and what might lie ahead. Below is a refreshed look at where things stand.
Head to Head
As of now, Novak Djokovic leads Rafael Nadal 31-29 in their overall meetings.
Their 60th match took place in the second round of the Paris Olympics, which Djokovic won 6-1, 6-4.
Surface breakdown:
− On hard courts, Djokovic has a strong advantage.
− On clay, Nadal still dominates the head-to-head.
− On grass, their record is tied.
Grand Slams & Major Titles
Novak Djokovic has now won 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Rafael Nadal, having announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 season, finishes with 22 Grand Slam titles.
Key Updates
Nadal has officially retired (end-2024), so this rivalry is now closed in terms of new matches.
Djokovic continues to add to his records: He remains active and is adding match wins at Grand Slams. Djokovic joined Nadal in one remarkable club: the only men with 100+ match wins at Roland Garros (Djokovic has recently passed 100 match wins there).
Memorable Matches
The 2009 Madrid Masters semifinal was their first truly unforgettable clash, lasting 4 hours and 2 minutes—the longest match in the tournament’s history at the time. Nadal had to dig deep to overcome a relentless Djokovic, eventually prevailing in three sets in front of his home crowd.
Fast forward to the 2011 Wimbledon final, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown. Djokovic outlasted Nadal in four sets to claim his maiden Wimbledon crown, becoming the first Serbian ever to lift the trophy. That victory also propelled him past Nadal to the top of the world rankings.
Their rivalry intensified at the 2011 US Open final, another marathon encounter that stretched over four hours. Djokovic, riding high from his Wimbledon triumph, defeated Nadal in four sets to cap off one of the finest seasons in tennis history.
The 2012 Australian Open final pushed both men to their absolute limits. Lasting an astonishing 5 hours and 53 minutes, it remains the longest Grand Slam final ever played. Djokovic edged Nadal in a dramatic five-setter, 7-5 in the decider, in what is often regarded as the pinnacle of their rivalry.
In the 2018 Wimbledon semifinal, the two staged another epic. Spanning over two days and lasting more than five hours, Djokovic again emerged victorious in a gripping five-set battle that reminded fans why their rivalry was so revered.
One of their last truly great duels came in the 2021 French Open semifinal. Nadal struck first by taking the opening set, but Djokovic roared back to win in four, in a match so enthralling that French authorities bent the curfew rules to allow fans to stay past 11 p.m. Many consider it one of Djokovic’s finest ever victories.
Finally, the curtain fell on this legendary rivalry at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their 60th meeting saw Djokovic defeat Nadal in straight sets, bringing the head-to-head tally to 31-29 in his favor. While not as dramatic as their earlier marathons, it served as a fitting bookend to a rivalry that defined an era and gave tennis some of its greatest matches.
Overall & What Now
Final count: 60 matches, with Djokovic leading 31-29.
Since Nadal is retired, the rivalry’s numbers are now fixed unless something extraordinary happens. Djokovic, however, still has opportunities to extend many of his individual records (Grand Slams, Masters, match-wins, etc.).
The GOAT discussion continues: Djokovic edges many counting stats, but Nadal’s dominance on clay and the sheer emotional weight of many matches keeps the debate rich.
