Rafael Nadal and the French Open have become almost inseparable over the years, thanks to Nadal’s extraordinary record of 14 victories at Roland Garros. No one in history has dominated a clay court like Nadal, who achieved this feat with apparent ease during his two-decade-long career before retiring last month. Even though a month has passed since his departure from professional tennis, his former rivals continue to marvel at his unmatched prowess on clay. One such rival is Jordan Thompson, who vividly recalls the humbling experience of facing the “King of Clay” in 2022.
The Australian tennis player had his first encounter with Nadal on the clay courts of the French Open in May 2022. Fans and experts alike expected a one-sided match, and Thompson himself shared the same sentiment. At the time, Nadal was seeded fifth, but on the clay courts of Roland Garros, seedings hardly mattered when it came to him. As anticipated, Nadal comfortably defeated Thompson in straight sets, with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round. Nadal later went on to win his 14th French Open title in that tournament, cementing his legacy even further.
Recently, Thompson opened up about that unforgettable match during a podcast episode on December 5. He reflected on the nerves he felt when he learned about the draw. Recalling the moment, Thompson said, “I got off a flight and saw so many messages, and I just knew it wasn’t going to be good. When I checked the draw, I was thinking, ‘Who could it be?’ Then I saw I was up against Rafa, and I thought, ‘Great! I might as well book my flight home now.’”
Thompson described the match as an incredibly challenging experience, likening Nadal’s forehand to a relentless weapon. “His shots were so powerful and safe, and the ball kept bouncing way over my head. Because I’m not as tall as many players on the tour, I felt like I was constantly jumping just to hit the ball. My calves were getting a workout, and I was just running from side to side trying to stay in the rally.” Thompson admitted that facing Nadal at Roland Garros is “the hardest task in tennis by a country mile.” He added, “At the end of the match, I told him, ‘It was an honor to play you, but it was not fun because I got whipped.’”
Thompson is not alone in acknowledging Nadal’s dominance at the French Open. Novak Djokovic, one of Nadal’s fiercest rivals and a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has also spoken about the difficulty of facing him at Roland Garros. Despite Djokovic leading their overall head-to-head record 15-13, he has struggled against Nadal on clay, particularly at the French Open. Speaking earlier this year, Djokovic called Nadal’s presence at Roland Garros “unbeatable.”
“Nadal was nearly invincible there for a long time. Every time you stepped onto that court with him, he was the favorite, no matter the circumstances,” Djokovic said in an interview in September. He also admitted that Nadal’s dominance at the French Open is the primary reason he hasn’t won more titles there. Djokovic, who has three Roland Garros titles (2016, 2021, 2023), noted that any victory against Nadal on that stage feels doubly significant.
With Nadal now retired, Djokovic’s path to more French Open titles may seem clearer. After missing this year’s tournament due to an injury, Djokovic will likely return in 2025 to try for a fourth Roland Garros title. Only time will tell whether he can add to his impressive resume on clay without Nadal in the mix.