MY ACCOUNT
Novak Djokovic would be delighted by the prospect of facing Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final, as he targets revenge for his French Open loss to the Spaniard.
Nadal remains on course for a calendar Grand Slam after following up January’s Australian Open victory with his 14th French Open title earlier this month, having overcome Djokovic in a quarter-final classic on the clay in Paris.
The Spaniard’s Roland Garros triumph moved him two clear of Djokovic’s tally of 20 grand slam titles, while his last-eight win over the Serbian was his 29th in the pair’s head-to-head rivalry (Djokovic has 30 wins).
With 59 career meetings, the duo have met one another more often than any other men’s pairing in the Open Era, and they could be set for a final showdown at Wimbledon after landing on opposite sides of the draw.
Speaking to Sky Sports, defending Wimbledon champion Djokovic said he would relish such a contest and insisted Nadal, who has not triumphed on the grass in London since 2010, is among the favourites to take home the title.
“If we get to face each other it means we’re both in the finals, which I think we both want,” Djokovic said.
“It’s a very long way [away], but of course you have to put him as one of the favourites, even though he hasn’t played at Wimbledon for the last three years [including the cancelled 2020 edition], I think.
“But still, he’s Nadal, he has achieved what he has achieved throughout his career and also this year, of course, which gives you a lot of confidence in his case.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of great matches ahead for both of us, and if we get to face [each other] in the final… I’d love to face him in the final and get revenge for Paris!”
Nadal has beaten Djokovic in 11 of the duo’s 18 grand slam meetings, although the Serbian holds a 2-1 advantage over their three Wimbledon contests, triumphing in the 2011 final and the 2018 semi-finals.
Djokovic begins his Wimbledon campaign by facing Kwon Soon-woo on Centre Court on Monday, with Nadal taking on Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo the following day.
