{"id":1760929,"date":"2026-02-12T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T06:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1760929"},"modified":"2026-02-12T09:00:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T06:00:30","slug":"rafael-nadal-makes-its-done-comment-on-novak-djokovics-hopes-of-25th-grand-slam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1760929","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Nadal makes &#8216;it&#8217;s done&#8217; comment on Novak Djokovic&#8217;s hopes of 25th Grand Slam"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Rafael Nadal makes \u2018it\u2019s done\u2019 comment on Novak Djokovic\u2019s hopes of 25th Grand Slam<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"12 Feb 2026 9:00 AM\" data-ps-date=\"12 Feb 2026 9:00 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1770886830\"><br \/>\n                            12 Feb 2026 9:00 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/rafael-nadal-honest-comments-novak-djokovic-25th-grand-slam\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a 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href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Frafael-nadal-honest-comments-novak-djokovic-25th-grand-slam\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a class=\"!text-share-icon hover:!text-share-icon-active flex items-center justify-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" aria-label=\"Follow Tennis365 on Google Search\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Rafael Nadal makes \u2018it\u2019s done\u2019 comment on Novak Djokovic\u2019s hopes of 25th Grand Slam\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Rafael-Nadal-Novak-Djokovic-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Rafael Nadal has discussed Novak Djokovic                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Rafael Nadal has proclaimed that Novak Djokovic does not have many opportunities left to win a 25th Grand Slam title as he described his former rival\u2019s longevity as \u201cadmirable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> holds the record for the most men\u2019s singles Grand Slam titles in tennis history, having secured his 24th and most recent major at the 2023 US Open.<\/p>\n<p>The 38-year-old Serb was vying to become the oldest major singles champion in tennis history at the 2026 Australian Open, where he lost to world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a four-set final.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rafael-nadal\">Nadal<\/a> collected 22 Grand Slam crowns before calling time on his staggering career in 2024, which puts him second on the all-time men\u2019s major list behind Djokovic.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic and Nadal formed what was arguably the greatest rivalry in the history of men\u2019s tennis, having contested 60 matches \u2014 a men\u2019s Open Era record \u2014 between 2006 and 2024.<\/p>\n<p>During an appearance at a charity golf tournament at the Club de Campo in Madrid, Nadal was asked about Djokovic\u2019s bid for a 25th major.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s done; I don\u2019t think we need to analyse tennis based on who wins,\u201d said the former world No 1.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-debate-patrick-mouratoglou-wrong\"><strong>Rafael Nadal addresses Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner debate and asserts Patrick Mouratoglou is \u2018wrong\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/when-will-novak-djokovic-play-next-after-withdrawing-from-qatar-open\"><strong>When will Novak Djokovic play next after withdrawing from Qatar Open?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe had an opportunity in Melbourne, and at this stage of his career, to be honest, he doesn\u2019t have that many left, and I think what he\u2019s achieving is admirable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 14-time Roland Garros champion also spoke about being a fan of tennis since his retirement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt feels calmer and without any strange feelings because my time here ended the way it was meant to,\u201d said the 39-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI extended my career longer than I ever imagined, and now I\u2019m completely happy to see my colleagues succeed, and in a way, I also enjoy their success.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>What Rafael Nadal said during the Australian Open<\/h2>\n<p>Nadal shared his thoughts after Djokovic defeated world No 2 Jannik Sinner in a thrilling five-set semi-final at the Australian Open.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt must have been difficult for Jannik to accept this defeat, because he was the favourite, but he must understand that he faced a player with a special and unique trajectory in this tournament,\u201d the Spaniard said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe had opportunities. He couldn\u2019t take advantage of them, and in the fifth set things changed, the momentum was clearly in Novak\u2019s favour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe learn from everything and he is a very humble guy with a great capacity for self-criticism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I am convinced that he will pay a lot of attention to what happened to avoid it happening again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Before the final, Nadal was asked whether he wanted Alcaraz or Djokovic to win.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Novak wins, I\u2019ll be happy for him because, in a way, what he\u2019s doing is spectacular,\u201d Nadal said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be a tragedy for me, but if I have to support someone, I feel I have to support Carlos.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinner-above-carlos-alcaraz-alternative-tennis-rankings-utr-zverev-djokovic\">Jannik Sinner No 1 over Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev 7th \u2013 alternative men\u2019s rankings<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rafael Nadal makes \u2018it\u2019s done\u2019 comment on Novak Djokovic\u2019s hopes of 25th Grand Slam Ewan West 12 Feb 2026 9:00 AM Rafael Nadal has discussed Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal has proclaimed that Novak Djokovic does not have many opportunities left to win a 25th Grand Slam title as he described his former rival\u2019s longevity as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1760929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1760929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760929\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1760929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1760929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1760929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}