Over the past 18 years, Rafael Nadal has maintained a record-breaking dominance at the French Open, making him one of the greatest competitors Roland Garros has ever seen. He has won the tournament a staggering 14 times since 2005, beating top tennis players along the way. In this article, we will take a look at the top 5 players that Rafael Nadal has dominated at the French Open.
1. Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, reached the final of the French Open twice, but failed to secure a victory due to Rafael Nadal’s prowess on the red dirt. Their head-to-head record currently stands at 9-6 in favor of Nadal. They have played each other four times in the Grand Slam, with Nadal winning most meetings, including the 2018 and 2019 French Open finals.
2. Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka faced Nadal twice at Roland Garros, succumbing to defeat both times. Their first match took place in 2013, where Nadal claimed victory. Fast forward to 2017, they once again squared off in a championship final, which Nadal won to claim his tenth French Open title.
3. Andy Murray
As a ‘Big 4’ member, Andy Murray has faced Rafael Nadal twice during the clay-court major, losing both times. Their first meeting took place in 2011, where Nadal eliminated Murray during the semifinals. They squared off again in 2014, with Nadal recording another win to advance.
4. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has faced Nadal a total of 10 times at the French Open, with Nadal leading the tally 8-2. The pair had battles in three Roland Garros finals (2012, 2014, and 2020), and Nadal was victorious in all of them. Nadal’s two losses against Djokovic took place in the 2015 quarterfinal and the 2021 semifinal.
5. Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal’s rivalry with Roger Federer is one of the greatest in tennis history. However, Nadal has dominated their meetings on the clay courts, particularly at the French Open. They have come head-to-head six times at Roland Garros, with Federer unable to secure a win in any of those matches. Notably, four of these meetings were during the final rounds in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011, with Nadal claiming victory each time.
