Serbian tennis legend and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic enjoyed a great rivalry with Rafael Nadal. The two players played against each other 60 times on the tour and the Serbian leads the head-to-head record 31-29. However, when it comes to playing at Roland Garros or clay courts in general, the Spaniard is way ahead of Nole.

In the 29 matches played between the two players on clay courts, Nadal won a whopping 20 of those clashes. At the Roland Garros, Djokovic and Nadal played against each other 11 times and Djokovic won only three, the latest of which came at the 2024 Paris Olympics when the Serbian beat Nadal in the second round.

Having faced so much difficulty against Nadal on clay courts and the French Open, Djokovic, in his latest interview, blamed the Spaniard for his low number of Roland Garros titles. Djokovic said that Nadal was the reason that he and Federer could not win more titles at the French Open.

Djokovic claimed that such was dominance from the Spaniard that every time he took the court, he was the favorite. The 24-time Grand Slam champion also recalled his most recent clash with Nadal and that although the 38-year-old was battling injuries, it felt like a tough mountain to climb.

Probably not, to be completely honest. For me, but for Federer as well. Nadal was unbeatable there for a long time. He lost only a few times at the Phillipe Chatrier. Every time you step on that court with him, he is the favorite.

Notably, Nadal won 14 French Open titles while Djokovic and Roger Federer could win only four titles combined. The Spaniard led 6-0 against Federer at Roland Garros.

Even at the Olympics, he had injury problems, I was in better shape, but still, you know it is the highest mountain to climb. He is the greatest, maybe the only reason why I don’t have more Roland Garros titles. Every win against him there is worth twice as much.

Novak Djokovic added

Novak Djokovic hails win against Rafael Nadal at Paris Olympics as huge

Novak Djokovic valued his win against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros so much so that he hailed his most recent win against the Spaniard at the 2024 Paris Olympics as ‘huge’. Djokovic admitted, that although Nadal was not at his best, he considers beating the 14-time French Open champion on his turf a big deal.

Ahead of the finals in Paris, I haven’t lost a set, I’ve beaten Nadal at his home – although he was not at his best, but still, beating him in Paris is something huge. 
The Serbian defeated the King of Clay 6-1, 6-4 in the second round and eventually went on to win the gold medal. However, Djokovic’s tally of French Open titles stays stagnant at three. A perfect reminder that you can’t have it all.