The reign supreme of this year is Novak Djokovic. The defending champion will be taking his fifth consecutive and eighth total Wimbledon titles if he wins the finals. Having bagged the last 2 Grand Slams this year is dominating the field for the third one. Moreover, this will be a record-breaking 24th Grand Slam title for the champ.
This 36-year-old Serbinator started his journey in 2003 and the rest is history. In the last 2 decades, he developed himself into a complete player with a level of physical and mental strength like no other. Over the years, Nole has been making record after record and has grown into an unbeatable tennis legend. Now, he has players fearing to go up against him but this was not always the case.
Djokovic’s untold story of hiding from Nadal
Novak Djokovic’s 2007 season would be the rising action chapter in his legendary story. This was the year he had been establishing himself as an all-round, all-surface player. He made it to the semi-final of Roland Garros and Wimbledon. In both of these Grand Slam semis, he was set to play against the Spain’s raging bull, Rafael Nadal.
The Djoker did not want to show his weakness to his opponent before their Wimbledon 2007 meeting. So, he had tried to avoid the Spaniard in the locker room. He said, “I was trying to avoid him and his sight. I was just trying to get away and talk to the people there, you know. My intentions before the match were not to, you know, show him that I am weak, whatever, so he can be an advantage.”
Hiding from Rafa was not of much help back then though because he went on to defeat him in both of the Grand Slam semi-finals. Since then, both of these players have become pinnacles in the world of tennis.
Did Nadal win 2007 Wimbledon?
Rafa defeated Novak Djokovic to play against the King of Grass, Roger Federer. Roger had established that the Wimbledon Center court was going to be his territory. But Rafael wasn’t just going to give it to him and engaged in a combative Championship final. After a thrilling 5 set match, Roger took the win and his fifth Wimbledon title.
Next year, Rafa turned the favor. In the Wimbledon 2008 finals, Nadal beat all the odds and defeated Roger in yet another 5-set thriller.
What are your thoughts on the Big 3 rivalries over the years? Let us know in the comments below!
