Djokovic and Nadal: Tennis rivlarly, anyone?

There is nothing more exciting, more salacious in the sporting world than that of a rivalry.  There have been team rivalries for as long as can be remembered in such sports as football, basketball, and baseball.  At the same time, there can be individual rivalries as well.  Sports like golf and tennis are ripe with them.  The current rivalry between the Serbian player, Novak Djokovic, and Spanish player, Rafael Nadal, promises to be one for fans to enjoy for years to come.

The rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal began the very first time the two met in the quarter finals of the French Open in 2006, which Nadal won.  The second time they met was during the 2007 Indian Wells Tournament, which Nadal went on to win.  In the twenty-nine times they have played each other, they have proven to be pretty evenly matched with Nadal having sixteen wins to Djokovic’s thirteen wins.

Since they are only a year apart in age and both are considered to be in the prime of their careers, the Nadal Djokovic tennis rivalry will be one for tennis fans to enjoy for years.  And while they are watching they get to enjoy this battle of wills.  Part of tennis is a head game.  And it is all about who is able to shake the other one, get him off his game, mess up his stride.  That is what happens between Djokovic and Nadal.  Nadal has claimed that Djokovic is the only player to get into his head and throw him off his game. 

That was evident during their consecutive clay matches in Madrid and Rome.  Djokovic took the win in both those games, despite the fact that Nadal was the favorite and clay is his preferred playing surface.  There are other times that Nadal was certain he would lose to Djokovic because he felt like the underdog going into the matches to begin with. 

While they have this definite on court rivalry going, this amazing competition between them, off the courts, the two seem to be good friends.  They share a manager, which means they travel together a great deal.  They have been seen eating out together and have even been known to take a break and play a few rounds of golf together while they are on tour.  The rivalry may be alive and well on the courts, but they are able to maintain a friendly and professional relationship off them.