As his tennis career is coming to an end, Rafael Nadal expressed that Roger Federer has been his ‘biggest rival’ as he reflects on his times as one of the ‘Big Three’ in men’s tennis, alongside the Swiss ace and Novak Djokovic.
Recently, Djokovic defeated Nadal in their 61st and final match at the Six Kings Slams in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Federer and Nadal’s classic encounters in the years between 2004 and 2019 are still worth remembering up to this day.
In an interview, Nadal said: “I’ve played Djokovic more than anyone else, but for me, my biggest rival was Federer.”
He added: “When I came onto the circuit, Federer was already there, and he was the first… “In the prime years of my career, it was Roger and Novak. But in those early years, which are so impactful, it was always Roger.”
Furthermore, Nadal declared that his matches with both athletes were truly thrilling. He stated: “I think, and I don’t know why, that my rivalries with both of them were more intense than the one they had with each other… I’m not sure why, but I feel like the world sees it that way too. Maybe with Roger, it was because our styles and approaches to the sport were so contrasting.”
“And with Novak, it was an incredible challenge.. He’s a player who has managed to maintain a very high level and improve every year… The numbers show he’s the best, which means his tennis has also been the best… And he’s been the most injury-free, which allowed him to maintain his physical, mental, and tennis levels longer than anyone… That’s why he’s the best, and he’s earned it,” he added.
Nadal announced that he will retire from the sport after the Davis Cup finals in November. With this, Djokovic will be the last active member of the “Big Three”.
A new generation of athletes
Young athletes such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been leading the rankings for the new generation of tennis players. While Nadal still believes that Djokovic can still battle at the highest level, eventually these youngsters will dominate the sport in the following years.
Nadal said: “It’s human nature that, even if Novak stays healthy, he’s getting older, and at some point, the clock catches up with everyone… It happens to everyone…. Novak is good enough that if he stays healthy, he can still compete at the highest level and aim for the biggest titles… If he keeps enjoying it, he’ll keep going.”
The athlete added: “But if at some point the effort it takes to stay at that level isn’t worth it to him anymore, I think he’ll step aside… As for Alcaraz and Sinner, they’re set up for long, successful careers…. They’re both a step ahead of everyone else.”
Source: Eurosport