“For the sake of tennis and Roland-Garros in particular, we hope that Rafa can play there” – Djokovic

World No 1 Novak Djokovic is hoping that arch-rival Rafael Nadal will play the French Open in May this year.

The 37-year-old Spaniard pulled out of the Monte-Carlo Masters, which starts today, and has not played on the tour since Brisbane in early January. Tennis fans will be closely following Nadal over the next few weeks, hoping that the 22-time Grand Slam champion will get to play on clay this year before he hangs up his racquets.

“As a tennis fan I want him to play at least one more tournament before he retires,” Djokovic said as quoted by Eurosport. “He was saying that this might be his last season, but he just played one tournament in Brisbane but hasn’t played since. We travelled together to America. I saw him at Indian Wells, he was trying his best to play. It’s his favourite surface. We all know what he’s done on clay in his career, particularly Roland-Garros. That’s his goal, we all know that, he’s been saying it. For the sake of all tennis and Roland-Garros in particular, we hope that he can play there. It would be great to have another great encounter.”

“I’ve been very proud of that rivalry” – Djokovic on Nadal rivlary

Djokovic, who is looking for this first title of the season, also said that he was proud of his rivalry with the Spaniard, whom he has played 59 times (Djokovic leading 30-29).

“The one to remember that I won, the Australian Open final which went almost six hours. In 2012, and of course the first time I won against him on clay, here in 2013. The first time I won against him in Roland-Garros, I think it was 2015, but I lost way more times against him on clay. I think we played more than 50 times. It’s amazing, I’ve been very proud of that rivalry. I think we can probably reflect on it and appreciate it more once we retire,” the Serb said.

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