As the waning embers of the greatest era in men’s tennis burn away, the enmity between the ‘Big 3’ at the center of this epic dama appears to have subsided.
With Rafael Nadal announcing his retirement at next month’s Davis Cup Finals, Novak Djokovic will soon be the last man standing among a trio of superstars who rewrote the tennis rule book over the last two decades, breaking milestones that appeared impossible until they became a reality.
Djokovic won the most important battles against his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and he will finish his career with the most Grand Slam titles, the most weeks as world number one, and the most ATP Masters titles of any player in history, ensuring his claim to the title of greatest player of all time.
The argument over what might have been had injury not stymied Nadal’s progress in recent years will quickly fade as tennis adjusts to a world without the Spaniard, who has announced his retirement after next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Federer retired from the stage at the 2022 Laver Cup in London, and with Nadal following suit, the apparent rivalry between the greatest male players of all time is fading.
While Federer and Nadal have had a friendly rivalry for the past decade, Djokovic has not always had such a positive relationship with his two main rivals.
Federer and Nadal were always regarded to be less than sympathetic to the Serbian’s position when he was deported from Australia in 2022 owing to his stance on Covid vaccinations, with Nadal being particularly critical to Djokovic in some of his statements over the years.
However, Djokovic paid a gushing homage to his fiercest opponent, Rafael Nadal, as he spoke emotionally about the conclusion of Federer, Nadal, and Andy Murray’s careers.
“He’s been my greatest rival,” Djokovic said. “My rivalry with him has had the greatest impact on my career to date.
“We expected it would happen sooner rather than later, yet the announcement still comes as a shock. Roger announced his retirement a few years ago. Andy (Murray) is also participating this year.
“To be honest, I find it a little daunting. I’m not sure what to make of it. I still enjoy competing.
“But a part of me went with them. A large portion of me. It’s bad news for the tennis and sports communities. Rafa has been an inspiration to many children around the world.”
Images of Djokovic greeting Federer warmly as they met behind the scenes at the 2024 Shanghai Masters confirmed their often fractious sporting rivalry is now a distant memory, and a similar vibe may well prevail among the other two members of the ‘Big 3’ after Novak confirmed he will fly to Spain next month to participate in Nadal’s farewell tributes in Malaga.
Of course, it’s difficult to be friends with a player who will face you in Grand Slam finals two or three times a year, but the respect that develops between players who achieve those tremendous heights builds a link that only true greats share.
John McEnroe’s regard for his great competitor Bjorn Borg has evolved into a friendship once their on-court clashes ended, as did Federer and Nadal, who became friends even before their careers ended.
Djokovic may not have had that type of both with the other two members of the ‘Big 3’, but he was there for Federer’s farewell at the Laver Cup and will also be present for Nadal’s final Davis Cup matches next month.
It would be wonderful to assume that both Federer and Nadal will make time to witness Djokovic’s final match, as these three tennis legends have a mutual respect that should be reciprocated.
In a US TV interview last year, Djokovic opened out about his friendship with Federer and Nadal, admitting that he hopes the trio may sit down for a cordial dinner in the future, once their on-court conflicts are done.
“I’d like to.” “I’d really like to,” Djokovic says, anticipating a probable dinner rendezvous with Federer and Nadal.
“I personally would like to. I mean, obviously (laughs), we didn’t get along very well off the court throughout our careers.
“And we’re not friends because, you know, we’re rivals, and it’s tough for competitors to be very close and communicate and give insights into your life or how you feel because, you know, it may be used against you.
“But we have shared the stage for so many years. And I believe that I always have the utmost regard for them.
“So, yeah, I hope that one day, when the curtains are a little more closed, we can sit down and reflect.” “That would be fantastic.”
Djokovic may still have a few huge wins left in him before announcing his retirement, but tennis has already moved on from the era dominated by Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, with new stars setting the standard for what comes next.
If Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and the rest of the sport’s youthful guns reach the heights of the ‘Big 3’, they will have joined the ranks of athletic legends who made the hitherto unattainable dream of winning 20 Grand Slams a reality.
