Tennis is a sport that has produced some of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports. From the classic battles between Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe, to the more recent matches between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, men’s tennis has been graced with some of the most thrilling and memorable rivalries in all of sports. In this article, we will take a look at the tennis stats of some of the greatest tennis rivalries in the history of men’s tennis.
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Tennis stats: Greatest Tennis rivalries (Men)
1. Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal is one of the most recent great rivalries in men’s tennis. That’s why they come at the first position in the tennis stats of the greatest tennis rivalries in the history of men’s tennis. The two players have met 59 times, over 16 years between 2006 and 2022 with Djokovic holding a slight edge with 30 wins to Nadal’s 29. Their matches have been some of the most fiercely contested in recent years, with many of them taking place in the finals of Grand Slam tournaments. Their most famous match was the 2012 Australian Open final, which Djokovic won in five sets. Djokovic and Nadal are the only men to have played each other in all four Grand Slam finals.
2. Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer
While Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer share great respect, their rivalry has arguably had slightly more edge than any other in men’s tennis over the past two decades. They hold the second position in that tennis stats list. They have played 51 times, with the 34-year-old Serb holding a 27-23 advantage. The pair are currently tied on 20 Major singles crowns. The pair have played many great matches, with their 2019 Wimbledon final. Djokovic won that final in five sets, arguably the most memorable one. The Serb won their most recent battle in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open.
3. Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal
The rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is perhaps the most famous rivalry in modern men’s tennis and they come at 3 in that tennis stats list. The two players have met 41 times, between 2004 and 2019. Nadal holds a slight edge with 24 wins to Federer’s 16. Their matches have been some of the most memorable in tennis history. Many of them took place in the finals of Grand Slam tournaments. Their most famous match was the 2008 Wimbledon final, which Nadal won in five sets. While Federer defeated Nadal in four sets in the pair’s most recent clash in the semifinals of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
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4. Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray
Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray has been one of those rivalries where even though they have faced each other 37 times it still does not get old. Novak Djokovic has won 25 out of the 36 Matches they have played against each other. While Andy Murray has won 11 Matches against the great Serb player. They are the only pair of tennis players to compete against each other in 4 different Australian Open finals. They are also only one of 2 pairs in history of the open era to have met in each of the 4 Grand Slam finals.
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5. Ivan Lendl vs John McEnroe
The rivalry between Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe was one of the most heated and intense rivalries in men’s tennis in the 1980s. The two players met 36 times over 12 years from 1980 to 1992. Lendl won 21 matches while McEnroe won 15. McEnroe led the series 14-11, before Lendl won 10 of their last 11 meetings, including their final clash in the quarterfinals of the 1992 Canadian Open. Their matches were often contentious, with both players known for their fiery personalities and competitive spirit. Their most famous match was the 1984 French Open final, which Lendl won in five sets.
