Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (Photo : Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic has admitted he misses competing against Rafael Nadal, insisting that his rivalry with the King of Clay has always been special.
Djokovic has always played at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha with Nadal in the draw, but this year was different, with the Spaniard opting to start his 2017 season at the Brisbane International. In an interview with Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo, Djokovic admitted he misses playing against Nadal in the first event of the year, admitting their rivalry is "something special."
"The rivalry with Rafa is really something special. The amount of matches we played against each other, the Grand Slam finals, especially the one played at the Australian Open that lasted almost six hours," Djokovic said via Tennis World USA.
"When I started to be a stronger player, I had to find ways to win especially against Rafa and Federer. Until a few years I didn't know if I could dominate because they were there."
Djokovic and Nadal have one of the richest rivalries in the Open Era. Djokovic leads Nadal by 26-23 in their ATP Head2Head matchup, winning their last seven outings in the last two years. The last time Nadal defeated Djokovic was his last Grand Slam win back in 2014 at the French Open, where the former defeated the latter in the final round of the event.
Djokovic and Nadal will once again have a chance to relive their rivalry at the Australian Open on Jan. 16, 2017. Djokovic is still considered as one of the favorites to win the first Grand Slam event of the year, despite his poor finish last season, but Nadal is confident he could capture another major if he plays in full health at the Aussie Open.
"I cannot tell that, because as I say before, I cannot predict the future. So I don't want to say things that I cannot say, because I don't know," Nadal said when asked if he could win a Grand Slam title this season. "The only thing I can say is if I am healthy, I believe that I can do it. If not, I will be at home fishing."
