2014 French Open semifinalist Andrea Petkovic revealed she once spoke with Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni, who confirmed that Novak Djokovic was “the greatest player” his nephew faced and that was because “no player had the better eyes in tennis” than the current 24-time Grand Slam champion.
For 18 years, the Spaniard and the Serb battled against each other and created one of the greatest rivalries – not only in tennis, but in all of sports.
In mid-2009, Nadal opened a routine 14-4 head-to-head against Djokovic. But then, the current world No. 7 went on to win 27 of their next 42 meetings and finish with a positive 31-29 record against the newly retired Spaniard.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic© YouTube screenshot
Over the last several years, Djokovic declared Nadal his “biggest rival” a couple of times. However, when asked the same question during his farewell in Malaga, the Spanish tennis icon acknowledged he had the most meetings against the Serb but that Roger Federer was his biggest rival.
Petkovic explains why Djokovic is the greatest player that Nadal faced
“I loved the match-up between Novak and Rafa, because Rafa respected him and knows he is the greatest player he has ever played. It is interesting because I talked to Toni Nadal and he said Novak [is the greatest player Rafa faced] and he said the reason for that is Novak sees the ball like nobody else,” Petkovic said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“He is the only one who attacked Rafa’s forehand. He gave an example. He said the first few times he tried to take Rafa’s forehand on the rise with his backhand and mistimed it a few times and was late on it. Then in the third match he had perfect timing every time. He said he had the best eyes in tennis.”
After Djokovic won their last official match at the Paris Olympics, he also defeated Nadal 6-2 7-6 (5) for third place at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh.
Tennis World USA