"Novak Djokovic will keep playing until the end": Andrey Rublev gives one caveat to potential Rafael Nadal resurgence on tour return

Andrey Rublev commented on Rafael Nadal's comeback, expressing his opinion that Novak Djokovic will continue playing to win Grand Slams if the Spaniard returns in good form to compete for the major titles. As the return of the 22-times Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal to an official tournament draws nearer, doubts persist about what the 37-year-old can achieve after a year away from the tour.

Rublev is one of the few active players who have secured victories over both Nadal and Djokovic, and this year, he even defeated 'Nole' in the final of the Belgrade Open in front of the Serbian audience.

With a two-Grand Slam difference against Novak Djokovic, it seems challenging for Nadal to equal or surpass the Serbian in the latter part of his career, especially considering Djokovic's remarkable performance as the world No. 1 and winner of three Grand Slams in 2023.

Rublev has faced both former world No. 1 players multiple times. Against Nadal, he has a head-to-head record of 1-2, while against Djokovic, it's 1-5. The Russian recently opined that Nadal will continue seeking Grand Slam titles despite his time away from the court, and this will serve as motivation for Djokovic to continue winning trophies: "I’m not surprised because I think he and Novak, those kind of players who are playing to leave a mark in the history of tennis," Rublev said

"While Novak is still playing I think Rafa will try until the end to play and try to win slams. And the same goes for Novak. If Rafael Nadal keeps playing and winning when he comes back, Novak Djokovic will keep playing until the end. They are playing for different things," he added.

The Russian, who ended the year as the world No. 5, matching his best year-end ranking achieved in 2021, had a strong performance in Grand Slam tournaments. He reached the quarterfinals in three of them during the year, with the exception of the French Open. He concluded the year with a 56-2 record (68%) and secured two titles: Belgrade and his first Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, in addition to reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters.

At 25 years old, Rublev's goal for 2024 is to surpass his Grand Slam results, as he has reached the quarterfinals nine times (including five of his last six Slam appearances) but has yet to reach a semifinal.