In 2006, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic contested their first match on the ATP Tour in the quarter-finals of the French Open.
Nadal had already won his first Grand Slam title in 2005 in Paris, while Djokovic was still making a name for himself.
Djokovic, 18 at the time, defeated Luis Horna, Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Haas and Gael Monfils before playing Nadal.
The Spaniard knocked out Robin Soderling, Kevin Kim, Paul-Henri Mathieu and Lleyton Hewitt on his way to the quarter-finals.
Unsurprisingly, Nadal proved too strong for the Serbian in the last eight.
Novak Djokovic said Rafael Nadal was ‘not unbeatable’
Nadal was leading Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 before the young Serbian star retired from the match due to a lower back injury.
Djokovic reflected on the loss during his post-match press conference, claiming that he was in control during the match, despite his injury issue.
“I was playing pretty well. I think I was in control. Even with a sore back I think I played equal,” Djokovic told reporters in Paris.
“I realised that I don’t need to play any special way (to beat Nadal). I think I could have won today. He’s not unbeatable. It was a difficult position for him. He was not in control of the match.”
The victory was Nadal’s 58th consecutive victory on clay. He would go on to pick up his 59th in the next round, defeating Ivan Ljubičić 6-4, 6-2, 7-6.
The Spaniard would go on to win a record 14 French Open titles. His last triumph came in 2022, when he defeated Casper Ruud in the final.
Nadal retired from his playing career in 2024 after the Davis Cup Finals. He recently practised for the first time in a year with young Filipino star Alexandra Eala.
A week later, he was back on the court alongside Alina Korneeva.
Nadal won his second French Open title
After defeating Ivan Ljubičić in the semi-finals, Nadal faced world number one Roger Federer in the 2006 French Open final.
Nadal, who defeated Federer in the 2005 semi-finals, had won his four previous matches against the Swiss Maestro and had a 5-1 record.
Again, Nadal emerged victorious, defeating Federer 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6.
Federer won his only French Open title in 2009, defeating Robin Soderling in the final. Soderling stunned Nadal in the fourth round of the 2009 event.
