Unlike Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal is not present at the Roland-Garros cast this year. But the Spaniard is headlining the excellent documentary Nadal-Djokovic, duel at Roland-Garros (available on the Prime Video platform since May 26). 62 minutes to understand the greatest rivalry in the history of tennis through the prism of the arm wrestling between the two men on the Parisian clay. A dive from 2006 to 2022 and some legendary matches between two rivals with different origins, different backgrounds but the same secret ambition: to become the greatest player in history. Antoine Benneteau, the director confided in Le Figaro a few meters from the Philippe-Chatrier court.
To discover
- Roland Garros Men's Singles
- Roland Garros Women's Singles
THEFIGARO. - Why did you choose the rivalry between Nadal and Djokovic in your documentary?
Antoine Benneteau. - Because they are the two greatest even though my idol is Roger Federer. But in their rivalry which has 59 matches in total, including ten at Roland-Garros from 2006 and given what their entourages reveal on the subject, this face-to-face was necessary. Djokovic even admitted it, in Paris, Nadal was and is the biggest challenge of his career. Rafael Nadal has lost only three times at Roland Garros, and it was twice against him. And it is now the outcome that we all expect in the race for Grand Slam tournaments. We have the impression that Novak Djokovic, because of his state of health, will pass in front of the Spaniard but it is only a hypothesis... This documentary was a good recap before this final sprint that everyone has been waiting for since Roger Federer's retirement.
What aspects of this rivalry surprised you the most while making the documentary?
I knew the story well but I liked to deepen some aspects. I am thinking, for example, of the fact that if today Nadal is adored at Roland-Garros, this has not always been the case. When he lost to Soderling (in the 8th final in 2009), the public was in favor of Soderling. The public sometimes gave the impression of being a little tired to see this kid who won everything arrive. There is also the evolution of the character of Novak Djokovic who has long tried to seduce the public by probably doing too much sometimes. Then, he ended up accepting this popularity deficit and even fed on it to go even higher.
The two men have faced each other ten times in Paris, Djokovic has won twice. GONZALO FUENTES
Did you try to get Nadal and Djokovic to talk in the documentary?
We quickly realized that it would be complicated to contact the very close entourages of the two players and their absence is, in the end, a bias. We have freed ourselves from all this by relying on great witnesses such as Guy Foret, Marian Vajda, David Ferrer, Sergi Bruguera, Fabrice Santoro who have seen these players grow up. Alexander Zverev, Dominik Thiem and Stanislas Wawrinka have also agreed to speak. These are opponents who have played against them, even if they have often suffered the law of the duo. There is admiration on their part but also a part of bitterness in their words even if there is always a smile at the end of the lips.
Off the court, we know they're not best friends.
Antoine Benneteau
How do Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic get along off the court?
They have immense respect for each other on the pitch. Rafael Nadal knows that if there is a guy who comes out of the locker room with the weapons to beat him in Paris, it is Novak Djokovic. Off the court, we know they're not best friends. They don't have the same ways of doing things or the same ways of communicating either, but that's okay because they're rivals. It also takes a little disenchantment to get the little extra centimeter, the extra km/h to hit the ball even harder and hurt the other person more.
Novak also had his mentors but he grew up in a country at war, which allowed him to develop a form of rage that Rafael Nadal does not have.
Antoine Benneteau
Their distinct paths have not helped to bring them together...
That's right, they are also different clans. They had a different upbringing and cultures that are shown in the documentary. Rafael Nadal grew up on an island, in Manacor, with a stable family clan, shaped by his uncle. Novak also had his mentors but he grew up in a country at war, which allowed him to develop a form of rage that Rafael Nadal does not have.
Has this rivalry been excessed?
It started badly because in 2006, Rafael was the defending champion and played Djokovic in the quarterfinals. At the time, we know that Novak is a very promising young man but we do not yet measure what he will become. He is only 19 years old. Novak is a little overwhelmed on the court and we see him making movements, pulling his leg and then giving up (after 6-4, 6-4, editor's note). That day, some wondered if there had not been some form of refusal of obstacle. There was no photo and yet, in a press conference, Djokovic said that he felt strong enough to beat him and that Rafael Nadal was not master of the game. Nadal got wind of these words and replied a little puzzled to his entourage "What, what did he say?". We feel that he did not appreciate this outing. As much as he likes confrontation on the pitch, off it's different. He did not seek to comment but their rivalry started from there.