Wimbledon 2022: Djokovic, Nadal and the Race for Big Three Grand Slam Supremacy
“I gonna be here explaining the sixth.”
After losing five significant finals to Novak Djokovic in the first half of 2011, Rafael Nadal told the media that if he didn’t start playing more aggressively, the past would be repeated.
Nadal was asked if Djokovic’s offensive game caused him to hit with less depth than usual. Nadal did not feel that was the case and attributed his lack of depth to playing “less aggressive” than he should have.
In the match, Djokovic hit 26 winners and 16 unforced errors, compared to Nadal who hit 20 winners and 26 unforced errors. Outside of the third set, Djokovic was in complete control of the rallies, held the baseline with more regularity and hit with more depth and precision.
Fast forward to the Wimbledon 2018 semifinal. Nadal hit 72 winners, Djokovic 73.
In 2011, Djokovic approached the net 25 times. Nadal approached the net 5 times.
In 2018, Djokovic approached the net 35 times. A hyper aggressive Nadal came forward 51 times. A staggering increase from 2011.
Despite losing in the 2018 semifinal, Nadal laid out the blueprint for beating his most difficult opponent on his most difficult surface: going for broke over and over again.
Entering Wimbledon 2022, Nadal leads the slam count 22-20. Djokovic leads the head to head 30-29. Nadal has two more opportunities this year to increase that count. Djokovic, who remains unable to play at the US Open, is left with just Wimbledon for now.
In what has been the most seismic race in men’s tennis history, the final two slams of 2022 may represent a pivotal moment. Both Djokovic and Nadal are closer in age to 40 than 30. Federer, who exerts far less force on his body than either Djokovic or Nadal, won his most recent grand slam at the age of 36. Father Time will inevitably vanquish the entire Big Three. This is an unavoidable, sobering reality.
Placed in opposite halves of the draw, the stage has been set. Six victories each and Championship Sunday will go a long way to sealing Nadal’s place in history or refueling the flames of this legendary race, with looming questions about Djokovic’s availability in New York and Melbourne.
The likes of Matteo Berrettini, Carlos Alcaraz, Hubert Hurkacz and Felix Auger Aliassime will be chopping at the bit to deny Djokovic and Nadal from writing more history at a slam the Big Three have won 16 of the last 18 times.
Of the top ten seeds in the draw, only Stefanos Tsitsipas has recorded a grand slam victory over Nadal or Djokovic.
Given the promise of the draw and the urgency/gravity of the moment, the 2018 Wimbledon Semifinal versions of Djokovic and Nadal are likely to rebirth themselves in 2022.
Tournament Prediction: Djokovic over Nadal