Nicola Pietrangeli has heated up the GOAT debate by his recent remarks on both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Both the players are vying to become the all-time great to win most number of Grand Slams before they decide to retire. Both the Spaniard and the Serb have won 22 Grand Slams each but are hungry for more.
After watching an incredible run of Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open 2023, he concluded that the 10-time Australian Open champion is the best player in the world. However, he also commented on Rafael Nadal and his recent struggles with form and fitness.
“Even if everyone does not like him, Novak Djokovic is the best player in the world while Nadal seems a bit worn to me,” the Italian tennis legend remarked in a recent interview.
The two-time French Open champion also gave his opinions on the GOAT debate.
“It’s hard to compare with the past. The world has changed and so has tennis. I feel it when journalists talk about ‘the modern age’: what does the modern age mean? Everyone was a champion in their time,” he concluded.
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Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal: Head to Head
With the retirement of Roger Federer in 2022, the GOAT debate has become bilateral from until now, being trilateral. Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in this race to become the best male player that ever played this sport. However, the rivalry between the two is historic and iconic and transpires more than a decade and half.
Both the players first met each other in a professional tournament in the quarterfinals of the French Open 2006. In this match, the Spaniard took the lead in first two sets by winning them 6-4, 6-4 and soon the Serb decided to retire. The Spaniard went on to win the Roland Garros men’s singles title for the second time in his career. However, the first win registered by Novak Djokovic against Rafael Nadal came in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Miami Open 6-3, 6-4.
Stats show that the 36-year old loves to play on clay court. He won 14 French Open titles and other ATP tournaments which are organized on the clay court. Many times both the players have played the final of the clay tournaments, but most of the times Rafael Nadal has come on top. However, Novak Djokovic reigns supreme on hard courts. He won Australian Open 10 times and the US Open thrice.
In the head-to-head count, Novak Djokovic leads Rafael Nadal 30-29. However, it is expected that Rafael Nadal will be able to cut this lead soon as the ATP tour moves to the clay swing.
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