Novak Djokovic showed immense respect for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer during Wednesday’s press conference in Belgrade. Asked about his longtime rival Nadal, whom he considers his biggest rival, Djokovic replied directly that he would like to meet the Spaniard in the French Open final this year..
Djokovic also mentioned Federer when explaining how the Swiss and Nadal pushed him to work harder so he could compete with them for the Grand Slam titles. With Federer retired, Djokovic and Nadal are the only active members of the Big Three.
When Djokovic and Nadal are also done with professional tennis, Djokovic said he would like to sit down with Nadal and have a friendly chat.
Djokovic pays tribute to Nadal and Federer.
“Roland Garros, the final.
I think he and I would be in agreement today, if someone guaranteed us that we would play in the final, I think we would be in agreement to sign. He is clearly my biggest rival, not just because of the number of games we have played, he is the rivalry with the most games in the history of any rivalry.
On the other hand, we are also generationally close, we kind of grew up together in the junior tournaments. He, on the other hand, started to show great results earlier and, after Federer, he is the player who influenced me the most.
Early in my career I lost more to him than I won, like with Federer of course, and they were my focus and I had to figure out how to beat them.”From 2008 to 2011, I was in the Top 3 in the world, but I didn’t win the Grand Slams and I didn’t cross the last hurdle, where those two were..
I am grateful for these rivalries, especially with Nadal, and as long as we are active tennis players, we do not have the opportunity and we do not allow ourselves to address the dimension and the importance of our rivalry, from our point of view and for the sport as a whole.
When we are done with our careers, I hope we will have the opportunity to talk to each other a little. We will see if there will be other matches. I’m sure yes. Maybe already on clay.
He always plays top level tennis when he is healthy, fit and at his peak. He and I, like grandpas, are making sure these youngsters don’t take Grand Slam titles,” Djokovic said.
