What Novak Djokovic does after he loses matches that once really impressed Rafael Nadal

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Novak Djokovic will continue his search for further Grand Slam success at the French Open, where qualifying is now underway.

Djokovic has won the French Open three times so far during his glittering career, with Rafael Nadal boasting 14 titles.

Unsurprisingly, no other male player has enjoyed more success at Roland Garros than the undisputed King of Clay.

Djokovic just clinched his first clay win of 2025 in Geneva, having decided to take on the ATP 250 event ahead of the French Open.

The second seed beat Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-3 in his opener, setting up a quarter-final clash with Matteo Arnaldi, with Djokovic wanting to build his form for the upcoming Grand Slam.

Rafael Nadal left really impressed after beating Novak Djokovic in 2010 US Open final

Another exciting clash between Djokovic and Nadal is, of course, out of the question at Roland Garros, with the Spaniard having retired last season.

The duo met 60 times on the ATP Tour, one of which came in the final of the 2010 US Open, where Nadal beat Djokovic.

READ MORE: Alexander Zverev has one question for Novak Djokovic ahead of the French Open, ‘I can’t answer that’

And the Spaniard’s thoughts on the Serbian quickly became clear after that meeting, when Nadal was asked if he expected such good play from his opponent in the second set.

After securing a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win, he said: “I expect everything from Novak because he’s the No. 2 of the world, and his level is very, very high.

“I’m sure he is going to win this tournament very soon, no? Because his level is unbelievable, and I think he has the right game to win here and to win in almost every place, no, or in every place.

“So I wish him the best of luck, because he’s a great athlete, but at the same time is a great, great person.

“When he loses, it is not easy to do it what he does all the time when he loses matches. That’s very positive for the sport and a great example for everybody.”

Rafael Nadal thrilled after completing career Grand Slam against Novak Djokovic

Djokovic was taking on just his third Grand Slam final at Flushing Meadows in 2010, having lost the 2007 US Open final and won the 2008 Australian Open.

But the Serbian more than put up a fight against the Spaniard, who needed all of his skill and experience to come out on top.

READ MORE: Jim Courier reacts after Novak Djokovic decides to end his coaching partnership with Andy Murray

And his success was notable in more ways than one, with Nadal securing the first US Open title of his career.

It meant he had hugely impressively completed the career Grand Slam, having previously won the French Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

Asked what the win meant to him, he said: “Yeah, well, just thank you very much, first thing. Yeah, it was [an] amazing feeling.

“I think winning against Novak is always very, very difficult, and the results say that lots of times, I lost against him.

“So I think for the first time in my career I played a very, very good match in this tournament. That’s my feeling, no?

“I played my best match in the US Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that, for sure.”

And discussing the completion of the career Grand Slam, he said: “Yeah, I know, for you, very important, that.

“You know, I’m still 24. I have, I know, for me, it’s a dream [to] have the career Grand Slam, but this is more dream [to] have the US Open.

“Some moments unbelievable feeling because… I worked a lot all my life, in all difficult moments to be here, but I never imagined having the four Grand Slams.”