Novak Djokovic was left intimidated by Rafael Nadal's bizarre pre-match locker room rituals at Roland Garros
ATPTuesday, 12 December 2023 at 01:00
World number one Novak Djokovic has opened up about how he was
intimated after witnessing Spain’s Rafael Nadal’s rituals before the match at
the French Open.
Nadal is regarded as one of the greatest players in the
history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 22 Grand
Slam titles. Fourteen of those major titles came while playing at the Roland
Garros and it is because of this reason he is called the ‘King of Clay’.
Djokovic was recently quoted in a report where he explained how
he felt intimidated because of Nadal’s rituals before a French Open clash earlier
in his career.
“I’m playing Nadal in Roland Garros and I have his locker
next to my locker,” he recalled. “So we’re so close. We’re trying to give each
other space, but that locker room is also not that big. When you jump around
like Nadal does before we go out on court in the locker room he’s doing sprints
next to you.
“I can even hear the music he’s listening to in his
headphones. You know, it was pissing me off. Earlier in my career I didn’t
realize how all of that is part of the scenario. I was getting intimidated by
that. But it’s also motivating me to do stuff myself & to show that I’m
ready for a battle, for a war.”
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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