Andrea Petkovic, the former world No. 9, recently shared a fascinating conversation she had with Toni Nadal, the legendary coach of Rafael Nadal, about the dynamic between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Petkovic revealed that Toni once spoke candidly about why Djokovic stands out as his nephew’s greatest adversary.
The rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal is often hailed as one of the most intense and enduring rivalries in sports history. Over an 18-year period, from 2006 to 2024, the two warriors met a staggering 60 times — a record for any men’s rivalry in the Open Era. Their final encounter at the 2024 Paris Olympics in July saw Djokovic edge out Nadal with a 31-29 head-to-head advantage. Their fierce competition spanned across all four Grand Slam events, with Nadal holding a slight 11-7 lead in major finals.
Nadal, who retired from the ATP Tour after his last match at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, recently opened up about his most significant rivalries. While acknowledging that Djokovic was the player he faced the most on tour, the 38-year-old Spaniard stated that his “biggest rival” was Roger Federer. Reflecting on his early years, Nadal noted that Federer was the first to set the bar for him. “When I arrived on the circuit, it was Federer who was there and he was the first,” Nadal shared with AS in October. “In the years when I was at my best in every sense of the word, it was Roger and Novak. But in the first years, which are the ones that leave a special mark on you, Roger was always there.”
During a recent appearance on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Petkovic relayed Toni Nadal’s unique perspective on Djokovic’s abilities and why he posed such a distinctive challenge for his nephew. “I loved the match-up between Novak and Rafa because Rafa respected Novak and knows he is the greatest player he has ever played,” Petkovic explained.
She continued, recounting a key insight from Toni Nadal: “Toni said Novak is the greatest player Rafa has ever faced, and the reason is because Novak sees the ball like nobody else. He’s the only one who attacked Rafa’s forehand effectively.”
Toni went on to illustrate this point with a specific example. Initially, Djokovic struggled with timing when trying to take Nadal’s forehand on the rise with his backhand, sometimes being late or mistiming the shot. However, by their third encounter, Djokovic had perfected his timing, consistently finding the right angles. According to Toni, Djokovic’s “eyes” were unmatched in the sport — a testament to his unparalleled vision and ability to read the game.
Toni Nadal, who coached Rafael from his childhood until 2017, played a pivotal role in his nephew’s rise, helping him secure 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. His admiration for Djokovic’s game highlights the deep respect that exists between these two tennis icons.