What Novak Djokovic said about Roberto Bautista Agut in 2020 as he confirms retirement

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Roberto Bautista Agut has confirmed that 2026 will be his final year as an active player on the ATP Tour.

The former Wimbledon semi-finalist made his debut in 2005 and reached a career high ranking of world number nine in 2019.

The Spaniard has won 12 career titles, including his biggest at the Dubai Tennis Championships back in 2018.

Novak Djokovic’s 2020 comments about Bautista Agut prove why he will be missed when he hangs up his racket.

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Novak Djokovic’s praise for Roberto Bautista Agut in 2020

Bautista Agut hit a real purple patch of form between 2019 and 2020 as he reached a career ranking high and his best-ever Grand Slam performance.

Djokovic and Bautista Agut played each other 12 times on the ATP Tour and the Serbian was always wary of the Spaniard.

Speaking ahead of their match in Cincinnati, Djokovic said: “First of all, his style of play is just so consistent. He doesn’t give away much at all. He doesn’t make too many unforced errors.

“You can always expect him to play at that certain level. I mean, he doesn’t drop his level of tennis much at all on any surface.

“That’s why he’s probably one of the most underrated tennis players that we have in the last five years.”

Djokovic managed to defeat Bautista Agut in Cincinnati, although the Spaniard did take the first set from the Serbian.

Novak Djokovic’s head-to-head record against Roberto Bautista Agut

Despite being wary of the Spaniard, Djokovic holds a very good record against Bautista Agut on the ATP Tour.

He has won 9 of his 12 matches against the Spaniard, which includes Grand Slam wins at Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open.

Bautista Agut’s victories against Djokovic did come on big stages, however, as he knocked the Serbian out of two Masters events.

The Spaniard tasted victory against Djokovic at the Miami Open and the Shanghai Masters, and he also beat the star en route to lifting a trophy.

Bautista Agut knocked Djokovic out of the Qatar Open semi-finals before going on to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili to win the whole event.