Rafa Nadal has ‘full respect’ for Novak Djokovic. But he won’t be supporting him in the final

1 month ago 19

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Retired great Rafael Nadal has backed veteran Novak Djokovic’s ongoing drive for grand slam success even though he concedes the 38-year-old Serbian is past his best.

Speaking at Melbourne Park on Saturday, Nadal, 39, said it was a “positive thing” to have somebody at Djokovic’s age fighting with players such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who were in their prime.

Novak Djokovic takes a breather during his semi-final victory against Jannik Sinner.

“I really believe that he [Djokovic] is here for one simple reason – because if I don’t get injured, probably I will be here playing, too,” Nadal, the 22-time major winner, said.

“When you like to do this thing, if you are not injured and if you are not, I mean, super tired mentally, why wouldn’t you be here?

“I think it’s a positive example of commitment, of resilience … I mean, Novak, for obvious reasons, he’s not at his prime, but he is still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive. So, full respect.”

Djokovic is endeavouring to become the oldest winner of the Australian Open – a record set by 37-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1972.

He has found himself in this position because of his incredible ability to manage court time, according to retired American ace Andy Roddick, who marvelled at Djokovic’s gruelling semi-final victory over No.2 Jannik Sinner – 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

“The pacing with which he can get through matches is unbelievable,” Roddick said on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick.

“I don’t know if anyone has managed matches better than Novak. Like even when the crowd says something, and this is a skill, it is not a criticism, if he is struggling and a fan whistles, you don’t get penalised for stepping off because it’s a crowd interaction.

“So Novak stepping off to get another 15 seconds of air is experience, it’s a skill, it might be the difference between making a first serve in this moment. It’s in the rules. It’s what you should do in that moment.”

Roddick said fans, opponents and critics had counted out Djokovic at their own peril.

“If anyone asks Novak about retirement in the next six months, they should be fired,” Roddick said.

Djokovic has already won the Australian Open 10 times, including an epic five-set victory over Nadal in 2012, a match that lasted for five hours and 53 minutes.

By winning his 11th championship Down Under, he would also become the first player to capture 25 grand slam singles titles, surpassing Margaret Court’s 24. Serena Williams has 23, Nadal has 22, while Roger Federer won 20.

But 22-year-old Spaniard Alcaraz, a player who grew up idolising Nadal, also has a date with history, looking to become the youngest player to win all four grand slam singles events.

“History is on the line for both of us every time we play,” Djokovic said during his post-match press conference at 3am on Saturday.

“The finals of grand slams, you know, there’s a lot at stake, but it’s no different from, you know, any other big match that I play.

“I won against him last year here, you know, also in a gruelling match. Let’s see. Let’s see how fresh are we both able to be. He also had a big match, but he has 15, 16 years on me. You know, biologically I think it’s going to be a bit easier for him to recover.”

Rafael Nadal is in Melbourne for the Australian Open men’s singles final.

All attention will be on which player recuperates better from their semi-final contest.

Nadal expects Alcaraz to overcome the cramps that hindered him during his five-set semi-final victory over German Alexander Zverev.

“I’m sure he will recover even if it has been a long battle, the other semi-final wasn’t a short battle either,” Nadal said.

“I think Carlos has more possibilities of recovering almost better than Novak.”

Nadal will be at Rod Laver Arena for the men’s final and said he would be supporting Alcaraz, his doubles partner from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“If Novak wins, I will be happy for him because in some ways, it is spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career,” Nadal said.

“So I will be happy, it will not be a drama for me. But if I have to support someone, I feel I have to support Carlos.”

Nadal, who flew into Melbourne on Friday, said he was enjoying retirement, having played his last match in November 2024 when Spain lost the Davis Cup final.

Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open final.

He credited his generation of players for extending the careers of tennis professionals such as Djokovic.

“When I arrived on the circuit, the idea of the professional player was that when you were 28, 29, 30 already, well, you were a super veteran and practically, you had to retire,” he said.

“I think this generation has given it one more step, a turn of the screw to what it is to be able to lengthen the professional career, and it hasn’t been one player, but it has been many.

“I think this is a bit of a legacy for the next generations – we have shown that by doing things well, being professional, having the excitement, the motivation and the passion for what you do and a good team behind you, well, you can go further.”

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