Nadal reveals why he found it so difficult to beat Djokovic on hard courts

In a recent interview with Diario AS, Rafa Nadal offered one of the most honest and technical explanations as to why facing Novak Djokovic on hard courts was so challenging, especially in the later years of his career. According to the Mallorcan, the key wasn't just the level of the opponent, but the extreme physical demand required to maintain his best tennis during long matches on fast surfaces.

"With Novak, it was a bit more random. Especially on hard courts, when my physical condition no longer allowed me to make certain efforts, it became much harder for me", stated the Spaniard. Nadal admitted that, to have real chances, he needed a physical response that he didn't always find anymore. "To compete against him, I needed my body to respond in a way that, in recent years, it wasn't responding to me". He even tried to make changes in his game plan: "I had to try to shorten the points, but it was very difficult to beat Novak in two or three shots, something that could work for me against other opponents. I tried serve and volley or different tactics, but it didn't work for me". Nevertheless, Nadal pointed out that on clay and grass, he did find solutions, like in the 2018 Wimbledon semifinals, a match he recalls vividly, where he felt "the opportunities were more alive".

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nadal desvela por qué le costaba tanto ganar a Djokovic en pista dura