Rafael Nadal took to Twitter to congratulate Novak Djokovic on his 20th major win after he beat Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final to complete a hat-trick of Grand Slam titles in 2021.
Novak Djokovic also paid “great tribute” to Rafa and Roger in his victory speech when asked what the milestone meant to him.
Goran doesn’t know what to say, he says Rafa was scared of what, cos Rafa has won the RG 13 times I mean come on Goran, i think u and ur crew u the one who was scared I wonder ur heart bit was higher than anyone, ur eyes was as big as an owl, leave Rafa alone, talk about ur BOSS, u fail to do that in ur times, ur time is up baba yhooo
Dear Nikos, I agree with all your pints about Rafa. Don’t really know why your comments are addressed to me in particular. 😊
Dear Rafa fan 1,
My comments were mainly inspired by yours and are addressed to you to verify how true you were to write them, by a man who is constantly examining both referenced tennists from day one and could easily have been supporting one of them or both due to ethnic reasons at least. But No ! Only Rafa !
This triumvirate continues to create the golden era of tennis. They are leading by example. Rafael Nadal has taught us how to achieve triumph tempered by humility, and has shown us grace and generosity in the face of defeat. Writers are mired in the GOAT debate, but these three have transcended that exercise🤯💫🙏
Rafa is in a class of his own. No one and I mean no ne can hold a candle to him. Novak is an excellent tennis player but take away the I I I me me me, mental exercises and strength, luck and the absolute belief and conviction in and of himself he wouldn’t have come so far.
In any case congratulations to Novak on his 20th and everything working out for him.
I can only hope Rafa finds all he needs to play and win the us open. Actually, I’m sorry to say that I’m feeling anxious. I can’t bear the way Ivanisevic and other Serbs talk about and comment on Rafa but it shows their true colours.
Rafa may you reach your peak, your zenith and continue in that vein for a long time more.
You are the best and always will be the greatest in every way for us Rafa fans!!!
Dear RafaFan 1,
I am a Greek and I suppose that a lot of people would think that I am supporting either Djokovic (Balkan Serbian brothers) or Stefanos Tsitsipas at least (what a Greek would I be if I did not ?)
Well, since 2005 I have become a Rafa fan and I continue to be for a multitude of reasons:
1) Rafa has always kept his anger in reasonable limits inside court, never broke a racket, never screamed like a lunatic, never ripped his shirt after a win shouting like a wolfman, never made any despicable antics just to become a crowd favourite even for some minutes like someone has done throughout his career.
2) Rafa has tried persistently to keep his private life away from publicity, never used his family members or tennis team members to verbally attack other players like someone’s family members and team members have often done against Federer or Rafa.
3) Rafa perhaps has a small disadvantage, he is more humble than he should probably be. He neither thinks himself with grandeur nor brims with arrogance like someone does in multitude of times.
4) I do not think Rafa would to go to extremes to win anything like someone has often done in the past (ie arguable use of so-called oxygen chambers to speed up recuperation etc)
That is why I think people will never love somwone the way they love Rafa.
Personally I value ethics and social behaviour more than any number of GS, Masters etc.After all tennis is a game; nothing more or less than that.
No ! I would never be and I can NOT be a fan of someone else than Rafa, NEVER !
Nikos, you are spot on! Regarding your 3rd point, I wish Rafa would shed his uncanny humility while facing Djokovic and be ruthless against him and not give him too much respect. Kinda like how he was in the French Open 2020 final.
Rafa is a great person who happens to be also a great tennis player. Djokovic is a great tennis player and a very ordinary person, complete with some strange beliefs and character flaws. Rafa had the advantage of far better parenting. Rafa’s parents taught him how to handle fame and distinguish his worth as a person from his worth as a tennis player. How to keep a level head in the face of incredible fame and success and all the pressures and demands that go with it. Rafa values home, family and old friends over “all that celebrity stuff”. He’s a fierce competitor who really loves seeing others succeed and who’s deepest joy comes from feeling that win or lose, he gave it his best. Who values a tough loss like that versus Djokovic in AO ’12 over an easy win like that versus Roger in RG ’08. Rather sadly Djokovic is all about “me, me, me”.
I admire rafa for sending message of congratulation to djokovic. Djokovic has now the momentum for winning the grandslam he will never get this opportunity again. I am wondering how he will deal under pressure. Serena williams couldnt handle the pressure in 2015 and couldnt get the grandslam because she lost in the semfinal of the us open.
I fully expect a motivated nadal for the hardcourt season. If there is one thing i learned from wimbeldon is that the atp tour needs nadal more then ever. It was a boring event and the so called next generation couldnt handle the expectations and pressure and they showed that they are not ready to take it over from nadal and djokovic.
Djokovic needs competition and the only two who can give it to him excuse the only three that can give it to him are nadal, wawrinka and thiem.
Djokovic was very humble towards nadal. Some of his fanbase are not including the one in his team called goran ivanisevic I have read a article about him saying about nadal that he looked very scared at the french open semifinals and yesterday he said that the goat debate is over and that djokovic is the greatest of all time and we balkan people are the chosen one and can achieve impossible things.
I hope that carlos moya can motivate nadal just by letting him read the remarks of ivanisevic
We are from [the] Balkans. [For] people from [the] Balkans, everything is possible,” Ivanisevic said. “When nobody expects anything, we create everything. We are very, very special, special people there.”
Hmmmmmm🤔 and how Many grand slams did you win Goran ?
One I believe
That was very polite and classy of him. There’ve been players in the past who weren’t particularly nice about each other, and there’s no need for that. I’m getting really sick of the “GOAT” debate: I wish everyone would just accept that Rafa, Roger and Nole are all great players in their own ways, and that we’re been very fortunate to have all of them.
How sad Djoko will always try to be “The One” I am sure he will win more grand slams sadly he will never be up there with Raphael and Roger – congratulations from Rafa was to be expected the person he is humble and amazing. Rafa will be back watch this space!!
Rafa is always so good natured, and so generous and genuine in his praises for his rivals/opponents. I love Rafa for that (and for much more than that!).
Novak always will be a arrogant, self full of himself, Bastard !!! Why such a person, should be granted by god a place among the immortals???
Rafa did the gracious thing in congratulating Novak and I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.
Even though Novak gave tribute to Rafa and Roger, he wasn’t shy to indicate that he’s been the most dominant player over the last 10 years and that he is far from done. A clear message to the rest of the field.
Rafa can’t afford to worry too much about Novak. He just needs to focus on being the best version of himself at this current time.
.
Rafa is real!!! Novak is a great te nnisl player but lacks humility and genuineness.
Rafa you are beyond classy!! I for one could not be so graceful because for me it’s Rafa first then Federer, Murray and now Berretini.
Sorry Novak is not on my list even though he is a great tennis player.
It will be difficult for me to watch tennis when Rafa retires. Hope that’s a long time from now….
Can’t wait to watch him at the NY open.
Rafa is pure class in every way. We love you Rafa, Vamos x
Congrats to Novak! What an era!. Roger, Rafa and Novak all push each other. I am greatful for all three legends. I am also excited for the younger crop of talented and motivated tennis professionals. It’s such a pleasure to watch Stefanos and Matteo in the french and wimbeldon finals. They will eventually break through. Let’s not forget Denis who is right on the cusp as well. Loving this age of men’s tennis!
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Nole is a fit, flexible, and fierce competitor. I wish him good luck going forward. I hope he wins Olympic Gold. And finally I wish him a great loss to Rafa in US Open final. Vamos, Rafa!!!
Kirk are you really a rafan ??? You are sending a lot of good wishes in joker’s way
yes he is he is congratulating djokovic just like rafa did we should follow his example
If I do not acknowledge truth then I am betraying what I believe Rafa’s character to be. I want Rafa to crush Nole. What else do I need to say?
I wish it was Raka
So do I !!! I haven’t ever seen joker, been classy with Rafael, the way Rafael it’s with his rivals!!! But you right Kirk , we should be as classy with Rafael rivals, as Rafael it’s !!! My apologies for doubting you Kirk!!! Long live Rafael the king
Always the classy gentleman!
Now the race is on for 21.
Djokovic is fake!
I’ve come to accept that, once the “Big Three” have hung up their racquets, it very likely that Novak will have the most grand slams, but at what cost?
Rafa and Roger have reached no.20 with much less physical extreme effort, whereas Novak has gone to any lengths to achieve his ultimate goal: gluten free diet, constant stretching, carrying an oxygen chamber to the 2019 US Open, having a meditation guru, floating yoga and other extreme exercises, employing several different coaches to give him the edge.
All three players have different mindsets and different private lives. The question is whether Rafa and Roger were prepared to go to such extremes lengths in the pusuit of excellence? Obviously not.
At the end if it all, what I want the most from Rafa is him being satisfied and content in the knowledge that he’s made every effort to be the best he can be within his set parameters.
Maybe now that Novak has finally caught up, Rafa won’t feel the same pressure and he’ll be motivated by a new target. Looking ahead to the US Open, I hope that Rafa will have seriously addressed the areas he needs to improve: namely his serve and unforced errors. Wishing our champ the energy, confidence and belief to mount a successful challenge at the US Open.