Rafael Nadal reacts to Novak Djokovic winning RG, overtaking him in Grand Slam race
Rafael Nadal congratulated Novak Djokovic on pulling off “an impossible number” after the Serb clinched a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open. On Sunday, Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in the French Open final 7-6 (1) 6-3 7-5 to win his 23rd Grand Slam title and make it past Nadal in the Grand Slam race.
After winning the Australian Open and French Open last year, Nadal improved to 22 Grand Slam wins. But Djokovic responded by winning it all at 2022 Wimbledon, the 2023 Australian Open, and the 2023 French Open. “Many congrats on this amazing achievement @DjokerNole.
23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!” Nadal tweeted.
Many congrats on this amazing achievement @DjokerNole
23 is a number that just a few years back was imposible to think about, and you made it!
Enjoy it with your family and team! ????????— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 11, 2023
Djokovic wished Nadal a quick recovery
Last Friday, Spanish media reported that Nadal underwent surgery on his troublesome psoas muscle.
When Djokovic was asked about Nadal’s surgery, he expressed his wish to see the Spaniard healthy in 2024. “I know how hard it is to come back after a surgery. I really hope that we can see him next season. He’s so important for the game,” Djokovic said of Nadal.
Nadal, who skipped the French Open, announced last Saturday that his estimated recovery from the psoas surgery is five months. “Hello everyone. As you know last night I had surgery. Everything went well and the arthroscopy was on the left psoas tendon that has kept me out of competition since January.
An old injury to the labrum of my left hip was also regularized, which will surely help the better evolution of the tendon. I want to thank doctors Marc Philippon, Jaume Vilaró and Angel Ruiz-Cotorro for their work. I will start progressive functional rehabilitation immediately and the normal recovery process they tell me is 5 months, if all goes well.
Once again thank you for all the support you have shown me and that you show me every day. Today also on my birthday. Not in the desired or dreamed place, although THANK YOU anyway,” Nadal announced last weekend.
