"He’s like a wall": Novak Djokovic highlights reason behind Rafael Nadal’s success at Roland Garros
ATP
World number one Novak Djokovic has stated that Spain’s
legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal is ‘like a wall’ while playing at Roland
Garros.
The 37-year-old is often regarded as one of the greatest
players in the history of men’s tennis, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam
titles. Fourteen of those titles came while playing at Roland Garros
which is why he is also known as the ‘King of Clay’.
Djokovic, who is also regarded as the best player ever to
grace the tennis court, having won as many as 24 Grand Slams including three French
Open titles, was recently quoted in a report where he stated that facing Nadal
at Roland Garros remains ‘one of the biggest challenge’ a player can have in
professional tennis because the legendary Spanish star is like a ‘wall’ in that
competition.
“He’s like a wall,” said Djokovic. “It’s probably one of the
biggest challenges that you can have on the tennis tour, playing Rafa at Roland
Garros. We know his records there. I played him probably more than any other
player has played him on that court.
Rafael Nadal has won 14 French Open titles, the most by any player in the competition's history.
“The court is bigger. There is more space, which affects
visually the play a lot and the feeling of the player on the court. He likes to
stand behind quite far back on his return. You have sometimes when he’s really
in the zone and in the groove, not making many errors. You feel like he’s
impenetrable.
“It’s really a paramount challenge to play him in Roland
Garros. He’s an incredible athlete. The tenacity and intensity he brings on the
court, particularly there, is something that was very rarely seen I think in
the history of this sport.
“I’m sure that it’s going to be very emotional tournament
for him, as it probably was in Madrid and here. But there in particular because
of the records he has.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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