- Duo were longterm rivals on the court before Nadal’s retirement
Novak Djokovic produced a memorable moment during the Australian Open final when he briefly turned the spotlight away from the match and toward long-time rival Rafael Nadal.
Midway through the fourth set, Djokovic noticed Nadal applauding a point from his courtside seat at Rod Laver Arena.
Looking directly at the Spaniard, Djokovic smiled and jokingly called out, ‘Wanna play, Rafa?’
The comment was picked up on the broadcast and prompted laughter from Nadal, as well as a reaction from fans inside the stadium.
The exchange carried added meaning given Nadal’s unusual role as a spectator.
It marked the first time Nadal had attended an Australian Open final without competing in it himself, a striking image considering how often he and Djokovic shared centre stage during their careers.
During the Australian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic took a moment to acknowledge his old rival Raphael Nadal in the stands
Nadal saw the humour in Djokovic’s offer to take his racquet and come and play once again
It was the first time that Nadal had attended the Australian Open final since he retired from tennis
Djokovic and Nadal faced each other 60 times, the most meetings between any two players in the Open Era.
Djokovic holds a narrow 31–29 edge in their head-to-head record, with their rivalry producing some of the most demanding and defining matches in modern men’s tennis.
After the match, Djokovic addressed Nadal directly during his on-court speech, offering a heartfelt acknowledgment of their shared history.
‘I want to speak to the legendary Rafa, who is in the stands,’ Djokovic said.
‘Obviously it feels very weird to see you there and not here, but I just want to say it’s been an honour to share the court with you and to have you watching the finals here.’
Djokovic continued by admitting the moment felt unfamiliar for him as well.
‘It’s the first time for me and obviously a bit of a strange feeling,’ he said.
‘But thank you for being present. It’s too many Spanish legends, it felt like I was two against one tonight.’
Nadal and Djokovic had a storied rivalry, with the Serbian star holding a slender 31–29 advantage
The duo had been mainstays of tennis for over a decade, along with fellow great Roger Federer
Carlos Alcaraz also took time to thank Nadal during the presentation ceremony, describing how meaningful it was to play with him watching from the stands.
‘For me, as Novak said, it’s a little bit weird seeing Rafa in the stands,’ Alcaraz said.
‘It’s the first time, if I’m not wrong, as a professional. For me it’s such an honour playing in front of you. It’s a privilege. Thank you very much for being here.’
Nadal later responded on social media, congratulating Alcaraz on winning the Australian Open and completing a career Grand Slam, while also acknowledging Djokovic’s achievement in reaching another final in Melbourne.
‘Congratulations @djokernole on reaching another final in Melbourne and continuing to make history in our sport,’ Nadal posted to his Instagram Story.
‘Thanks for your words.’
