Rafael Nadal’s Record-Breaking 97.4% Victory at Roland Garros

Nadal: 97.4% victory at Roland Garros

Since the start of his career, before starting the Masters 1000 in Rome 2024, the Balearic left-hander has compiled 478 victories for 47 defeats on crushed brick. Or 91.05% success. Table in the Open period, ahead Roger Federer, with 86.9% on grass, and Björn Borg, 86.1% on clay. In the five best sets – Roland-Garros, Davis Cup, Masters 1000 and ATP 500 finals until 2006 – he established an even more “extraterrestrial” ratio: won 137 duels, lost 3. Did not a better man, obviously.

All three problems occurred in Paris. Facing two men. Robin Söderling in 2009, then Djokovic in 2015 and 2021. The other 112 times the winner of the quarter of the competition entered the field on the edge of Bois de Boulgne, they won. 97.4% success. The highest percentage in history at a Major, ahead of Borg – who had a much shorter career – with 96.1% at Roland Garros and 92.7% at Wimbledon.

Playing against Nadal at Roland Garros is the biggest challenge you can face.

Djokovic

A staggering statistic that led Djokovic to say, before facing, and defeating, Nadal in the semi-final of the 2021 “RG” edition: “This is a match like no other. Let’s face it, playing against Nadal on the stroke, on the court where he has had the most success in his career, is the biggest challenge you can face. A stronger in the finals you don’t get (a challenge) bigger than this.”

Passing in front of the media in Rome this Wednesday, the Serbian with 24 Grand Slam titles, questioning the Majorcan’s hopeful participation in the Parisian event, confirmed his views. “Playing Rafa at Roland Garros is one of the biggest challenges you can face in tennis,” he replied. “We know his records there. I was probably the one who opposed him the most on this court (Philippe-Chatrier).

When he (Nadal) is in the field at Roland Garros, you sometimes feel that he is impenetrable, like a wall

Djokovic

Well seen. Ahead of Federer, six duels, Djokovic is the obstacle that Nadal has most often found in his path at Roland-Garos. Ten times, for a record of 8-2 for the king “Vamos!”. “The court (Philippe-Chatrier) is bigger, there is more space (behind the lines), which has a big impact on the game visually and on the emotions of the player,” explained the nickname “Nole” “He (Rafael Nadal) likes to stay very far back on his return.”

“When he’s in the field, in his rhythm, when he doesn’t make many mistakes, sometimes you have the impression that he’s impenetrable, like a wall,” he said. “It’s a real challenge to face him at Roland Garros. She’s an amazing athlete. The tenacity and intensity she brings to the field, especially there, is something we’ve rarely seen in the history of this sport.”

Djokovic and Nadal could face each other in the first round at Roland Garros

“I’m sure it (Roland-Garros 2024) will be a tournament full of emotions for him, as maybe in Madrid or as it will undoubtedly be here (in Rome),” he said. “But even more even more so at Roland-Garros, because of its history.”

At the end of May, or the beginning of June, due to the high mass of the clay court, fate, due to the unseeded Rafael Nadal, could pit the two old rivals against each other from the first round. The most successful player in history in Grand Slam singles, facing the pope of the cream. The kind of cult game ready to go beyond the chapel of tennis and go so far as to put laymen of this sport into a trance.