Rafael Nadal is unequivocally regarded as one of the preeminent tennis players in history, having amassed an impressive 22 Grand Slam titles throughout his career. Nonetheless, there exist certain players who have successfully upheld a winning record against the esteemed Spaniard.
An exemplary case is Novak Djokovic, who possesses a 30-29 head-to-head record against Nadal. Despite enduring defeat in 14 of their initial 18 matches, Djokovic managed to reverse the tide and currently leads in their rivalry. Their 59 encounters, spanning from 2006 to 2022, constitute an Open Era record, indicating the likely perpetuation of this rivalry upon Nadal’s return from injury in 2024.
Nikolay Davydenko similarly boasts a winning record against Nadal, with a 6-5 head-to-head tally. Apart from Djokovic, Davydenko stands as the sole player to uphold a victorious record after engaging in 10 or more matches with Nadal. Demonstrating his prowess on hard courts, Davydenko secured victory in four consecutive matches between 2009 and 2011.
Further players with winning records against Nadal encompass Dominik Hrbaty (3-1), Borna Coric (3-2), and Alex Corretja (2-0). Even unexpected contenders such as Dustin Brown, Joachim Johansson, Lloyd Harris, Paradorn Srichaphan, Chris Guccione, and Olivier Mutis have each clinched at least one triumph against the illustrious tennis figure.
These unforeseen accomplishments underscore the depth of talent within the realm of tennis and the capricious nature of the sport. While Nadal’s manifest mastery remains beyond dispute, these players have unequivocally demonstrated their capacity to surpass even the most formidable adversaries.