Rafael Nadal's retirement was marked by a ceremony at the Davis Cup last year, though the event has been widely panned and even Novak Djokovic has had his say

Novak Djokovic is the latest big name from the world of tennis to blast Rafael Nadal’s retirement ceremony. Nadal hung up his racket late last year, with his final-ever match as a professional tennis player coming at the 2024 Davis Cup finals.

The Australian Open, which started Sunday (Saturday night in the US), is the first Grand Slam tournament of 2025 — and the first major championship to be held since Nadal, 38, played his final match at the Davis Cup in November.

The last time they met, Djokovic defeated Nadal in the 2024 Paris Olympics on the clay courts of Roland Garros (not counting the exhibition at the Six Kings Slam). Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles, an all-time record in the men's game that he took from Nadal by winning the 2023 French Open

Speaking on Rafael Nadal's unceremonious exit from the sport last year after a Davis Cup quarterfinal loss, Novak Djokovic said that organisers had not facilitated a retirement ceremony befitting of the 22-time Slam-winning Nadal's stature in the sport.

Novak Djokovic has revealed he ‘feels bad’ for missing Rafael Nadal’s tennis retirement ceremony at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Djokovic issued a statement on social media ahead of the special event that he would ‘be there in person to pay respect to Nadal’s stellar career’.

After advancing to the third round of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic admitted that he was surprised to break Roger Federer's Grand Slam match record.

Novak Djokovic now holds another Grand Slam record as he officially surpassed fellow tennis legend Roger Federer on Wednesday when he played the 430th major match in his career. After Djokovic's first-round match at the Australian Open on Monday,