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Djokovic Owes Growth of His Career to ‘Biggest Rival’ Nadal

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Denmark's Holger Rune during their quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (AP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Denmark's Holger Rune during their quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (AP)
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Djokovic Owes Growth of His Career to ‘Biggest Rival’ Nadal

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Denmark's Holger Rune during their quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (AP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Denmark's Holger Rune during their quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (AP)

Novak Djokovic joked that he was a relieved man after Rafa Nadal withdrew from the French Open due to injury but deep down the Serbian has nothing but respect for his eternal rival, saying a part of him would leave if the Spaniard retires in 2024.

Nadal failed to regain full fitness from a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January and the 14-times Roland Garros winner said 2024 could be the last year of his professional career.

Both players are tied on a record 22 Grand Slam titles, but Djokovic can inch ahead at Roland Garros where he had managed to beat Nadal only twice in 10 meetings.

"Honestly, I don't miss him being in the draw. I don't like seeing him in the draw of Roland Garros," Djokovic told reporters with a laugh.

"I have had not so much success against him in our head-to-head record in Roland Garros. I've managed to beat him twice, but I had to leave my heart and my guts out on the court to achieve that.

"A lot of people retired him already 10 years ago, but he kept going, which is something I respect and admire. I know how hard it is to maintain that level and keep going even after having a tough injury."

Djokovic said Nadal's announcement came as a shock and the 36-year-old praised his rival for bringing out the best in him over the years they dominated the sport.

"I have to say that he's my biggest rival. When he announced that he's going to have his last season of (his) career, I felt part of me is leaving with him too," he added.

"I feel that he was one of the most impactful people that I have ever had in my career, the growth of my career and me as a player.

"Definitely a great motivational factor for me to keep playing and keep competing and keep pushing each other - who's going achieve more, who's going to do better."

If Nadal does call it quits, Djokovic will be the last of the "Big Three" remaining on tour after Roger Federer retired last year, but the Serbian has no plans on hanging up his racket yet.

"It made me wonder, it made me think about my career and how long I'm going to play," Djokovic said.

"So far I'm not going to make any announcement today, but just reflecting on it, I also felt a little bit emotional about what he was saying.

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Ancelotti Exposed as Real Madrid Struggle to Accommodate Mbappe

Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe could not help his team overcome Arsenal. OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP
Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe could not help his team overcome Arsenal. OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP
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Ancelotti Exposed as Real Madrid Struggle to Accommodate Mbappe

Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe could not help his team overcome Arsenal. OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP
Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe could not help his team overcome Arsenal. OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

Kylian Mbappe's arrival at Real Madrid was envisioned to expand their Champions League domination, but he was muzzled by Arsenal as Los Blancos crashed out in the quarter-finals, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti on the brink.

The holders find themselves picking up the pieces after Arsenal surgically dispatched them with a 5-1 aggregate triumph on Wednesday and now it is Ancelotti who needs a miracle comeback to survive in his post.

The Gunners reached the final four with a 2-1 away win and will face Mbappe's former side Paris Saint-Germain, soaring without the French superstar, who left in search of European silverware with the record 15-time winners.

Mbappe limped off with an ankle injury in the final stages against Arsenal, leaving Madrid's 'remontada' ambitions in tatters and his coach under the microscope.

The Italian's team is deeply flawed this season, a far more fragile outfit than the side which powered to a Champions League and La Liga double last season.

To put the defeat into context, this will be the just the third time in 12 seasons that Madrid have failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Mbappe's arrival, despite his strong form in 2025 and 33 goals across all competitions, is one of the main factors in Madrid's downturn, with Ancelotti unable to accommodate him and Vinicius Junior together without destabilizing the team.

It is clear Ancelotti has not found the right strategy to use them, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes together in the biggest matches.

"We have to make more collective moves rather than individual ones," noted goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after the elimination, with Madrid reliant on star power rather than consistently outplaying opponents.

Ancelotti has deployed Mbappe in a center-forward role but he drifts frequently, and in the past has preferred to play off the left flank -- Vinicius' preferred spot.

Last season Bellingham and Joselu Mato both operated through the middle at times, and although the former is naturally a midfielder, the Englishman's physicality and presence was a huge boon for Madrid.

Against Arsenal and in the absence of any better ideas to break down Mikel Arteta's rock-solid defense, Madrid slung balls into the box in search of a target man like Joselu, who left last summer for a Qatar.

"We put in a lot of crosses but this year we don't have a Joselu, a born center-forward up there," observed Courtois.

'No problem'

Ancelotti has been frustrated with his side on a regular basis this season, for their lack of "collective commitment" to defending.

The 65-year-old threatened Vinicius with substitution during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad because the Brazilian was not running enough.

"That warning brought out the best in Vinicius -- from then on, he increased the pace and quality," said the Italian.

Ancelotti has been open about his future, knowing for weeks he may not be kept on for the last year of his contract.

For some time speculation has mounted that Madrid will look for a new coach in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp and Xabi Alonso the favorites.

"It could be that the club decide to change (coach), it could be this year -- or the next when my contract expires, there's no problem," said Ancelotti on Wednesday.

Madrid's defeat on Wednesday was their 12th of the season compared to just two in the whole of the 2023-24 campaign.

Toni Kroos' departure last summer is another factor, with Madrid's midfield not convincing this year.

The Arsenal post-mortem and any subsequent finding that can be utilized are even more crucial given Madrid still have trophies on the line.

They are four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, firmly in the title race with a Clasico to come in May which could decide the title.

Barcelona have won the previous two derbies, scoring nine goals in total to Madrid's two.

Madrid also face their arch-rivals in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, and will participate in the Club World Cup this summer, although Ancelotti may not be in charge by that point.

If Mbappe is to end the season with a major trophy and Ancelotti is to go out with the bang his Madrid legacy merits, there is no time to lick their wounds.