MELBOURNE, Australia—Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic own the two largest collections of Grand Slam trophies in the history of men’s tennis. They are their sport’s two most prominent active figures; no one else is even close. Both are in their mid-30s; no one knows how much longer they’ll be at the top of the game.
For all that the long-time rivals have in common, Nadal and Djokovic could hardly be entering this Australian Open, which begins Monday (Sunday EST), under more contrasting circumstances.
Nadal, of course, is the defending champion at Melbourne Park—thanks to a comeback from two sets down in last year’s final, which he called “one of the most emotional victories of my tennis career”—but he also is mired in about as bad a stretch as he’s ever experienced: 0–2 so far in 2023 and having won just one of his past seven matches dating to the end of last season….