Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic -- The Most Contested Rivalry

Rafael Nadal's rivalry with Roger Federer will forever be remembered for a series of classic clashes, but his head-to-head record against Novak Djokovic featured more matches and was more closely fought. A record-breaking 60 meetings saw Djokovic come out on top 31 times, although Nadal won 11 of 18 Grand Slam matches. In the Open era, no men met more often on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic and Federer having played 50 times. "My greatest rival is Novak Djokovic," Nadal told Globo Esporte in a 2022 interview.

Djokovic has reigned supreme on hard courts for much of his career, winning a record 10 Australian Opens and four US Open titles.

He led Nadal 20-7 on the surface, although Nadal held a 20-9 edge on clay, on which he powered to 14 French Open crowns.

The pair only played four times on grass courts, with two victories apiece.

"I respect Rafa, probably more than any other player in the world -- he is the biggest rival I had in my life," Djokovic said in 2021.

Teenage Djokovic

Nadal first faced a teenage Djokovic in the 2006 French Open quarter-finals, easing to victory as the Serb retired injured after losing the first two sets.

He won 14 of their first 18 matches, before Djokovic reeled off three straight victories on hard courts in 2009.

Their first major final meeting came the following year at the US Open, when Nadal won in four sets to complete the career Grand Slam.

The early 2010s confirmed their rivalry as a battle for the ages, with several marathon matches on the biggest stages.

Djokovic fought back from 4-2 down in a deciding set to win the longest ever Grand Slam final at the 2012 Australian Open, lasting five hours and 53 minutes.

Nadal continued to live up to his billing as the 'King of Clay', defeating