Which player has Djokovic faced most frequently in Grand Slam finals?

Rafael Nadal is the player Novak Djokovic has faced most frequently in Grand Slam finals. Djokovic and Nadal met nine times in major finals, making their rivalry one of the defining matchups in modern men’s tennis.

Their Grand Slam final meetings began at the 2010 US Open, where Nadal won in four sets. Djokovic then won three consecutive finals against Nadal: Wimbledon and the US Open in 2011, followed by the 2012 Australian Open. Nadal answered with victories in the 2012 French Open and 2014 French Open, while Djokovic won the 2013 Australian Open and 2014 Wimbledon finals. Nadal won their most recent major final, the 2020 French Open.

The rivalry crossed every Grand Slam surface: hard court, clay, and grass. Djokovic and Nadal also met many times outside finals, including landmark semifinal battles such as their 2013 French Open match. Roger Federer is another major rival, but Djokovic faced him in five Grand Slam finals, fewer than his nine final meetings with Nadal. That distinction is why Nadal is the canonical answer to this question.