Google News Rafael Nadal gets brutally honest on if he can still beat Novak Djokovic in Slam race
by DZEVAD MESIC
Rafael Nadal has acknowledged that he won't end up with more Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, is currently two Majors behind Djokovic on the all-time Slam list. After winning back-to-back Grand Slam titles at last year's Australian Open and French Open, Nadal improved to 22 Grand Slams and went two Slams clear ahead of Djokovic.
But then, Djokovic responded by winning 2022 Wimbledon and this year's Australian Open, French Open, and the US Open. On the other side, Nadal hasn't played since suffering a serious psoas injury during his Australian Open second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal is aiming to return to tennis in 2024 but he admits the Grand Slam race between him and Djokovic is over.
Nadal: I'm not going to win more Grand Slams than Djokovic
"I don't know at what level I will be able to return, but I have never lost my enthusiasm.
I haven't played for a year and for me, personal success is more powerful than general success. I sense that it will be difficult to recover a high level of tennis, but if I did not have the hope of being competitive again, I would not have done the work I have done these months and the effort that this requires after a very long career.
I am not going to win more Grand Slams than Djokovic, but I will give myself the opportunity to enjoy it again," Nadal said during a tennis clinic in Barcelona, via Eurosport Spain. Nadal is hoping to make his Grand Slam return at the 2024 Australian Open.
After the Australian Open, Nadal would also like to compete at his beloved French Open. In May, Nadal announced his intention to retire from pro tennis in 2024. With Nadal likely retiring in 2024, there is no doubt that the Spaniard would at least love to be healthy in his last few Grand Slams.