Djokovic's son comes out as a Nadal fan
Novak Djokovic watched the Australian Open final with his son Stefan. He had a clear favorite: Rafael Nadal .
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Feb 17, 2022, 09:28 am
Next week Novak Djokovic will finally be able to play competitive tennis again. The appearance at the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai will be the first since they were eliminated in the Davis Cup final round in Madrid in December last year. The field of participants in Dubai is also noble in the 2022 version, but one man will be missing: Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard named for the tournament taking place at the same time in Acapulco, and Nadal is still expected to start there. A match between Djokovic and Nadal can therefore be ruled out in the next few days. And one person in particular thinks that's a shame: Djokovic's son Stefan. As Papa Novak said in his now almost legendary interview with the BBC, his junior at the Australian Open kept his fingers crossed for eventual winner Nadal.
Djokovic twice against Nadal in 2021
"Every time Rafa scored, he jumped around and cheered with his fist like Rafa," said Djokovic. "He's like, 'When's the next tournament you're in and he's in? I really want to take a picture with him.” That could take a while. Novak Djokovic's participation in the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami is rather unlikely, at least in Tennis Paradise the participants are required to have full vaccination protection. Djokovic has ruled that out for the time being.
A meeting in Monte Carlo, the first big tryst of a season on clay, is more realistic. But who knows how many more opportunities Stefan will get to see his father duel with Rafael Nadal? In 2021, the two met only twice, Nadal won in Rome and Djokovic at the French Open. Overall, the world number one is slightly ahead in the balance sheet with 30:28 victories.