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As I’ve stated in a recent article, the 2023 season is going to be huge for both Nadal and Djokovic. Currently, Novak Djokovic is on 21 Grand Slam titles. As for Rafael Nadal, he is sitting on 22 Grand Slam titles. Of course, Roger Federer ended his career with 20 Grand Slam titles, just to throw him into the mix too.
We’ve been truly blessed to be tennis fans at a time when these three guys have competed against one another. They’ve produced records that could well remain for decades, and the matches they’ve been involved with have been off the charts. However, I’m not going to discuss overall regards and the GOAT debate here.
Instead, I wanted to discuss the Nadal vs Djokovic head to head records prior to the beginning of the 2023 season. I feel that it’s the perfect time to do this, especially given the importance of 2023 for these two legends of the game. So let me address the most important areas of this discussion now.
As Things Stand – Nadal vs Djokovic Head to Head
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At the time of writing, these two gladiators have played each other a total of 59 times. This is a rivalry that goes all the way back to 2006 when the two played at Roland Garros for the first time. It has been one of, if not the fiercest head to head rivalry that tennis has ever seen. And currently, Djokovic has the lead over Nadal by 30 wins to 29.
Nadal vs Djokovic Head to Head on Clay Courts
Of the 59 matches that these guys have played against one another, amazingly, almost 50% of them have been on clay – 28 to be precise. That’s mainly because there are so many Masters 1000 events played on clay throughout the ATP calendar. And on the clay courts, as you’d probably expect, Nadal dominates the head to head by 20-8.
Head to Head Numbers on Hard Courts
Interestingly, Nadal and Djokovic have played fewer times on hard courts than they have on clay. As for the current head to head on hard courts, Djokovic has a commanding lead over Nadal. Djokovic has beaten Nadal in 20 of their 27 meetings on hard courts – 27 matches in total.
Nadal vs Djokovic Head to Head on Grass Courts
If you’ve been adding the numbers as you go along here, you’ll know that this has left 4 remaining matches for grass courts. Again, there isn’t much between these legends – nothing at all as it happens. The head to head on grass courts between Nadal and Djokovic is tied at 4-4, with their most recent clash coming in the form of a five-set thriller at Wimbledon 2018.
How the Head to Head Could Change in 2023
I for one am incredibly excited to watch more contests between these legends in 2023. With that said, I think that Djokovic has the edge at the moment. I say this in terms of the level of tennis he is playing combined with his physical status. So if they do play each other in 2023, which is pretty likely, I think the Nadal vs Djokovic head to head will move in favor of the Serbian.
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