Nadal Sends a Message to Djokovic: Your Time Is Running Out

During the Australian Open men’s singles final this year, Nadal attended in person to watch Djokovic compete against Alcaraz.

This Spanish icon was positioned in the center of the front row behind the baseline, offering the prime viewing location, so close he could hear the players’ breaths.

Under Nadal’s watchful eye, Alcaraz mounted a strong comeback after losing the first set 2-6, eventually winning three consecutive sets to claim his first Australian Open title and become the youngest player in the Open Era to achieve a career Grand Slam.

For 38-year-old Djokovic, this was his first Grand Slam final appearance since Wimbledon 2024. The Australian Open presented a perfect chance for Djokovic to win his 25th Grand Slam, having defeated Sinner in a five-set semifinal, with his opponents in the round of 16 and quarterfinals withdrawing before their matches.

Perhaps drained from the exhausting semifinal, Djokovic’s performance noticeably declined in the latter stages of the final, ultimately losing to the 16-years-younger and fitter Alcaraz.

On February 10th, Nadal spoke at a charity golf event about the rivalry between Djokovic and Alcaraz, suggesting that Djokovic has few opportunities left to win another Grand Slam and praising Alcaraz as a “legend” in modern tennis.

“Alcaraz is not a newcomer; he has already won seven Grand Slam titles,” Nadal told reporters. “He is already a legend in our sport. If you look at the greatest players in history, few have won seven Grand Slams, so calling him a rising star is inaccurate.”

Nadal also candidly assessed his longtime rival Djokovic, commending the 38-year-old for an “admirable” and “remarkable” career but implying that his chances of winning more Grand Slams are diminishing.

“Djokovic is still competing because he can be there. He had a great opportunity in Melbourne. Honestly, I think he’s getting older and has fewer chances left, but his achievements are truly admirable.”

Nadal also took the opportunity to respond to recent comments by Mouratoglou, who claimed Alcaraz and Sinner currently surpass the peak level of the Big Three. Nadal initially replied with a series of meaningful emojis and later used a soccer analogy at the press conference to clearly refute Mouratoglou’s argument.

“His analysis is inaccurate. Comparing Alcaraz to today’s Djokovic is like comparing Barcelona’s Messi to the current Messi, or peak Ronaldo to the Ronaldo of today. Every player carves their own path. Having Alcaraz is a blessing; he is elevating tennis to an incredible level.”

Reflecting on his retirement life since 2024, Nadal described it as two “completely different mindsets” and said he feels completely at peace with his decision. “That chapter of my life has ended, and I’m genuinely happy to see my teammates succeed. I enjoy golf because you always play in beautiful places with very low injury risk.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Yun Juan Yun Shu)