Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic enroute to USA (Credit: Instagram)
Both Nadal and Djokoivc are at present making ready for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the 12 months’s first ATP Masters 1000 event, and caught up with one another on their flight en route to the United States.
They say two legends can not co-exist. Well, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic would agree to disagree with the assertion, as the 2 icons of tennis have seen loads of each other through the previous 20 years, not solely on the courtroom however off it, for a great little bit of enjoyable both methods.
Perhaps that’s why World No. 1 Djokovic took to Instagram to share a selfie Rafael snapped when the legends met up on the identical industrial flight to the United States.
Both Nadal and Djokoivc are at present making ready for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the 12 months’s first ATP Masters 1000 event, and caught up with one another on their flight en route to the United States.
In an Instagram submit shared by Djokovic, they two legends are seen snapping a selfie collectively of their flight.
“Great company on the flight to US,” wrote Djokovic on the submit.
Djokovic, who has gained 5 titles in Indian Wells, together with a hat-trick between 2014-16, will compete on the occasion for the primary time since 2019. And it is going to be simply his third event of the 12 months, and first for the reason that Australian Open, the place the Serbian fell to Jannik Sinner within the semi-finals.
Nadal, then again, triumphed within the desert in 2007, ’09 and ’13. His most up-to-date look was in 2022, when he defeated Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz within the quarters and semis earlier than falling to Taylor Fritz within the ultimate.
Despite the heated rivalry between these two on the courtroom, Nadal has usually acknowledged the Serbian’s greatness, as in a latest interview with El Objective de La Sexta, when requested about who he believes is one of the best to ever play the sport, the Spaniard answered fairly candidly, admitting that Djokovic reigns supreme, particularly when it comes to the numbers.
“The numbers say yes, for me yes (he is the best in history),” exclaimed Nadal.
Djokovic actually handed Nadal’s iconic tally of twenty-two titles on the French Open in 2023, and at present stands at 24 titles for himself.
He was denied his iconic twenty fifth title within the Australian Open, credit score to trailblazing Italian Jannik Sinner, who knocked the Serbian off within the semi-finals and went on to safe his debut Grand Slam title.
Nadal, 37, has been battling harm and missed just about all of 2023. He was harm once more final month earlier than sitting out the Australian Open.
