Most tennis Grand Slam singles meetings (male)

In 2024, the curtain came down on one of the greatest rivalries in professional tennis as Rafael Nadal (Spain) announced his retirement. The clay-court specialist faced Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 18 times in Grand Slam singles competition (of the unprecedented 60 matches they contested on the ATP Tour as a whole between 2006 and 2024). Nadal hung up his racket with an 11–7 win-loss record over Djokovic at the four major tournaments, including five wins in the nine finals they played. Among their most epic encounters were five-set title matches at the 2012 Australian Open (5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5 to Djokovic), 2013 French Open (6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–7, 9–7 to Nadal) and 2018 Wimbledon (6–4, 3–6, 7–6, 3–6, 10–8 to Djokovic).

Starting with the 2006 French Open, Nadal won his first five Grand Slam matches – three semi-finals, one quarter-final and the 2010 US Open final – against Djokovic, who fought back by winning three of the four consecutive Grand Slam finals they played in 2011 (Wimbledon and US Open) and 2012 (Australian Open). (Nadal won the 2012 French Open final.).

Their last three clashes all took place at the French Open – in 2020 (final won by Nadal), 2021 (semi-final won by Djokovic) and 2022 (quarter-final won by Nadal).

In an era dominated by three men –Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer – who had collectively amassed 66 major singles titles as of 8 September 2024, it’s little surprise that the second and third most prolific Grand Slam singles pairings are 17 for Djokovic vs. Federer (2007–20; 11–6 to Djokovic) and 14 for Nadal vs. Federer (2005–19; 10–4 to Nadal).

Overall, the 22 matches (including 14 finals) contested by Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert in 1975–88 remains the most prolific rivalry in Grand Slam tennis, with Navratilova 14–8 ahead (10–4 in finals).