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Rafa Nadal's classy act as Novak Djokovic breaks record at French Open

The Spaniard put his rivalry with the Serb aside in a classy gesture for the French Open champion.

andrew reid
·5-min read
Rafa Nadal was quick to congratulate his great rival Novak Djokovic after the Serb's record-breaking 23rd men's major title. Pic: Getty
Rafa Nadal was quick to congratulate his great rival Novak Djokovic after the Serb's record-breaking 23rd men's major title. Pic: Getty

Spanish tennis superstar Rafa Nadal has showcased his class with a beautiful message to Novak Djokovic after his great rival's record-breaking win at the French Open. Djokovic's straight-sets victory over Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud in the Roland Garros decider, saw the Serb overtake Nadal as the single greatest men's grand slam winner of all time.

The 23rd major of Djokovic's extraordinary career also saw him become the first man in history to win a major at all four of the grand slam tournaments at least three times. Djokovic - who also won the French Open in 2016 and 2021 - is now equal with Serena Williams on 23 majors and has the chance to equal Margaret Court's all-time record at Wimbledon next month.

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Djokovic's French Open triumph came in the absence of 14-time champion Nadal, who was forced to withdraw from Roland Garros due to an ongoing hip injury. The 22-time grand slam champion then announced that he would almost certainly miss the rest of the season, before retiring from the sport in 2024.

Rafa Nadal's classy message for Novak Djokovic

Despite the heartbreak of not being able to compete in his favourite grand slam and seeing his great rival overtake the grand slam record they once shared, Nadal was quick to congratulate Djokovic after the record-breaking feat. Describing the Serb's feat as almost "impossible", Nadal led the tributes to the man now regarded by many as the greatest player of all time.

French Open the 'toughest' major for Djokovic to win

Djokovic said his record-breaking feat was extra special given that it has always been the toughest one for him to win - largely down to Nadal's utter dominance on the Parisian clay. The Serb has only won three of his 23 major trophies at Roland Garros to go with his record ten Australia Open titles, three US Open crowns and seven Wimbledon triumphs.

The 23-time grand slam champ will be chasing more history at Wimbledon, where he will be hoping to match Federer's record eight titles at the All England Club and Court's all-time record of 24 grand slam singles titles. "This tournament (in Paris) was really in my entire career the toughest to win," Djokovic told a cheering crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Pictured here, Novak Djokovic after winning the French Open title to seal a men's record 23 majors.
Novak Djokovic's French Open victory saw him claim a men's record 23rd major grand slam title. Pic: Getty

"A lot of emotions here on this court, also off the court," he said, after lifting the trophy aloft. Djokovic, who also eclipsed Nadal as the oldest champion in Paris after a tough fortnight, has now won 21 consecutive matches at grand slams and has won three of the last four majors to overtake the Spaniard at the pinnacle of men's tennis.

Djokovic won last year's Wimbledon, missed the US Open and won in Australia in January, before Sunday's triumph in Paris. "I am being fortunate in my life to win 23 grand slams. It is an incredible feeling," he said.

"Whatever you are pursuing, tennis or anything else, I was a seven-year-old dreaming I would win Wimbledon and become No.1 one day. One thing is for sure I felt I had the power to create my own destiny. I felt it with every cell in my body."

with AAP

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