Novak Djokovic has paid homage to his "greatest rival" Rafael Nadal following what might have been the Spaniard's last French Open performance. Nadal , a 14-time champion at Roland Garros, was ousted in the opening round this year, succumbing to a 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 loss to Alexander Zverev on Monday. This defeat ensures that Nadal will not be extending his unparalleled tally of victories in France.
In a poignant address, he suggested that he may not return to the tournament in the future due to ongoing injury struggles. Meanwhile, Serbian ace Djokovic is advancing as a strong contender for his fourth title. He secured his place in the third round of the French Open on Thursday with a victory over Roberto Carballes Baena.
In the aftermath of his recent win, Djokovic didn't miss the chance to acknowledge Nadal's impact. During a press conference, he remarked: "He has been the greatest rival that I ever had.", reports the Mirror .
Djokovic reflected on their clay court encounters, saying: "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." He added: "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.
" Novak Djokovic heaped praise on Rafael Nadal, suggesting the.