Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have met more times than any duo on the ATP Tour, with the Serbian star leading the series 30-29.
However, in the early phase of their careers, Djokovic was playing catchup against Nadal, who dominated their rivalry by winning 14 of their first 18 head-to-head collisions. Nadal won most of their meetings at that time, predominantly on the Spaniard’s beloved clay courts.
Djokovic recounted how he felt intimated inside the locker room during a match at Roland Garros (which he did not specify) against his great rival Nadal. The Serbian, a rookie on tour, had his blood boiling watching and living through Nadal’s pre-match antics.
Speaking on 60 Minutes, Djokovic tells American journalist Jon Wertheim that the locker rooms at the Clay Slam were not big enough and rendered personal space nonexistent. The Serbian remembers hearing his opponent’s music bursting through the headphones while doing his pre-match warm-up backstage.
“I’m playing Nadal in Roland Garros, and I have his locker next to my locker, right? So, we are so close. And we’re trying to give each other space. But then the locker room is also not that big. And, the way you jump around like Nadal does before we go out on the court.”
“In the locker room, he’s doing sprints next to you. I can even hear the music he’s listening to, you know, in his headphones. So, you know, it’s pis**ng me off.”
It was unbeknownst to Djokovic that it was all part of being a tennis pro; he was completely overwhelmed and felt “intimated,” as he recalls. But the experience prepared Djokovic for these matches on the next occasion he played his big rivals.
“Absolutely. Early in my career, I didn’t realize how all that’s part of the scenario, right? So, I was getting intimidated by that. But it’s also motivating me to do stuff myself and to show that I’m ready, you know? I’m ready for a battle, for a war.”
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