Novak Djokovic’s Dominance Holds Little Value for Italian Legend as He Makes Baffling Claim on His Rivalry With Rafael Nadal

The excitement levels of fans have been up in the sky ever since Rafael Nadal stepped back into the game. Although he couldn’t last long on his run for the Barcelona Open title, everyone still has high hopes for the Spaniard. Besides all the other competitions that the fans wish to see him participate in, a last showdown against Novak Djokovic is what everyone wishes for.

The post effects of injury can still be spotted in Rafael Nadal’s performance. Despite the fact that the Spaniard has pushed himself to be back in the game, he has yet to attain the levels he once possessed. Amid the expectations of a showdown between him and the Serb, former Italian tennis pro Adriano Panatta recently came forward with a strong verdict to solve the debacle between the current state of the two.

“If both face each other at 100% fitness, the Spaniard is still a little better,” the former Italian pro said, remembering the legendary legacy of Rafael Nadal on clay. This statement not only presents his personal perspective on the current scenario but also reminds fans of the on-court rivalry that made the sport even more entertaining for the fans.

Along with that, he also expressed his desire to witness a showdown between Nadal and Djokovic in the upcoming French Open. “At Roland Garros I hope that Nadal finds Djokovic in the first round: I would be very disappointed if someone who has won 14 times in Paris goes out against anyone,” he said.

As the Italian pro dissected the outcome of a possible matchup between the two tennis legends, it still remains to be seen if any of his prediction comes out to be true.

Panatta aligns Jannik Sinner’s potential parallel to that of Rafael Nadal

Besides drawing a line of comparison between the remaining two names of the big three, Adriano Panatta also expressed pride over his compatriot Jannik Sinner‘s rapid growth. “But the Spaniard only needs to be at 98% to lose, because Sinner is more continuous. This is why the Italian will win more tournaments,” he said, reflecting on Sinner’s massive rise in the current scenario.

Sinner, who secured his maiden grand slam title at the Australian Open this year, also managed to surpass Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. While he already has a win over one of the active big threes in his portfolio, it still remains to be seen if he will be able to defeat another one, gathering immense glory to his end.