The recent non-appearance of Rafa Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters has led to speculation about the potential for the 22-times Grand Slam champion to participate in the French Open. However, Novak Djokovic has expressed his desire for a final showdown in their legendary rivalry.
In an interview with Eurosport published on Saturday, the world number one tennis player shared his aspiration to see Nadal compete in at least one more tournament before his anticipated retirement. Djokovic highlighted Nadal’s impressive clay court record, particularly at Roland Garros, and expressed hope for another thrilling encounter between the two iconic players.
As Djokovic prepares to vie for his third title in Monte Carlo this Tuesday, he will be doing so without his coach Goran Ivanisevic, following the conclusion of their successful partnership last month. Instead, the Serbian has been working alongside former doubles world number one Nenad Zimonjic in recent weeks. Djokovic cherished his long-standing relationship with Ivanisevic, who he described as a mentor, friend, and older brother, and expressed his gratitude for the guidance he received.
Regarding his collaboration with Zimonjic, Djokovic revealed that they have known each other for over 20 years and have established a strong rapport. He praised Zimonjic for providing valuable advice, particularly on improving his positioning when approaching the net, an area in which Djokovic aims to enhance his proficiency due to his limited doubles matches.
The prospect of seeing Djokovic and Nadal face off at Roland Garros excites tennis enthusiasts, and Djokovic’s eagerness for this encounter adds anticipation to the upcoming tournament. As both players continue to make headlines in the tennis world, fans hope for the possibility of witnessing another legendary match between these two tennis icons.
This story was reported by Aadi Nair from Bengaluru, with Jacqueline Wong contributing to the editing.