Novak Djokovic: Nadal the greatest rival that I ever had

Novak Djokovic has admitted that it is becoming increasingly challenging to motivate himself for tournaments, reflecting on his long-standing rivalry with Rafael Nadal. The world No.1 made it to the third round of Roland Garros after defeating Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

In his post-match press conference, Djokovic, now 37, was candid about his commitment to the sport. “It is becoming a little bit more challenging for me to push myself every single tournament to be really at the top,” he revealed. “I did struggle with motivation on a constant basis to always have that motivation I’ve had for more than 20 years of professional career. I know the moment is going to arrive sooner or later when I’m just going to, you know, have off weeks, where I’m struggling to push myself or deliver what needs to be delivered.”

Despite these challenges, Djokovic emphasized that his dedication to practice remains strong. “My commitment to practice hasn’t gone down. I’m focused pretty much solely on Grand Slams and Olympics this year, and playing for my country.” Djokovic has had a slow start to the season, not reaching a final yet and playing only seven tournaments so far, with Roland Garros being the seventh.

When asked about his rivalry with Rafael Nadal, Djokovic spoke highly of his greatest competitor. “He has been the greatest rival that I ever had,” he stated. “Matches against him on clay have frustrated me so much in my career, but they also made me a better player, made me understand what it takes to try to surpass him; try to win at least once or twice at Roland-Garros. It’s the highest mountain to climb for me to win Roland-Garros, particularly because of Nadal, because I always have to win against him in order to get to the title. We had some really fantastic matches here.”

Djokovic now looks ahead to his third-round match against 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti, scheduled for tomorrow in Paris. Musetti poses a significant challenge on clay, and Djokovic’s performance so far this season has not been up to his usual standards. Nonetheless, Djokovic’s reflections on his rivalry with Nadal underscore how their competition has pushed both players to excel, even as they sometimes stood in each other’s way for titles.

Inside the baseline, Djokovic’s recent performance appeared more convincing than his earlier season showings. However, with the tournament still in its early stages and tougher matches ahead, his focus and resilience will be put to the test. Djokovic’s acknowledgment of the mutual enhancement brought by his rivalry with Nadal highlights how their fierce battles have driven them to achieve greater heights in tennis.