Serb superstar Novak Djokovic has reiterated the harsh belief that he has never been friends with Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal. The trio have made up the most competitive three-way rivalry in tennis history but have always appeared to maintain a healthy camaraderie.
Or at least from the outside based on Djokovic’s latest comments, which suggest any fealty may not quite have been reciprocated. For years, the three icons of the sport have rotated Grand Slam honours while promoting a healthy sense of competition among one another, but it seems that’s where the relationship ended as far as Djokovic is concerned.
The 37-year-old has said he feels “very proud” and “totally honoured” to have played a part in the holy triumvirate of modern tennis but has always maintained he was never close with them on a personal level. However, he also spoke of Federer and Nadal initially blocking his route to more major titles early in his career, and it appears that friction may have impeded him from developing a true connection with either peer.
“For many years, I saw them more often than my mother,” he told Argentinian newspaper La Nacion. “We weren’t close friends, but I can say that we got to know each other well.
“These rivalries bring millions of people to the sport and connect people in a way that is eternal. Eternal. Because even those who are not tennis fans might be fans of one of us. I think everyone is a fan of our matches, it’s something that will last for generations.
“I’m very proud of the experience of having played more than 60 matches with Rafa and I don’t know, about 50 with Roger. It’s incredible. I don’t know if there is any rivalry with as many matches as I had with Nadal, for example.”
Djokovic also spoke of the three years between his first and second major titles (2008 and 2011) being “fundamental” for his development.
Fast-forward to today and he’s the last man standing, with Nadal having recently announced he’ll retire from the sport following the upcoming Davis Cup Finals. Djokovic has collected a record-breaking 24 Grand Slam titles and established himself as the greatest of all time in the eyes of many.
