After losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals, Rafael Nadal discusses their rivalry. They have played each other more than any other two men have faced off in the Open Era.
“I think is amazing playing 39 times,” Nadal said. "What's happening the last five, six years, four years, is just amazing that the same players have been competing for every tournament, every single important tournament of the year. So that's something that didn't happen very often in the history of our sport. We are in a special moment of the history of tennis. I don't say that's a better moment than others, but is special for this fact. So I don't know for how many years we will have the chance to repeat that situation.”
Nadal, who defeated Djokovic at Roland Garros, Montreal, and the U.S. Open -- but lost to him at Monte Carlo, Beijing, and the ATP World Tour Finals in London -- thinks he might have a better shot against his rival at the 2014 Australian Open, where the Serb is the three-time defending champion.
“Is a little bit more favorable court for me,” Nadal said. “I gonna try to prepare myself as good as I can.”
Both Nadal and Djokovic will have busy off-season. Nadal is headed to Necker Island to play in an exhibition hosted by Virgin CEO Richard Branson. He will also play a few exhibitions in South America, one of those against Djokovic in Buenos Aires.
“I see him more than my mom actually,” Djokovic said with a laugh.