Rafael Nadal has stated that Roger Federer is the “biggest rival” he has had in his career because the Swiss icon was around when he debuted on tour.
The famous Spaniard stated that his early years at the top of tennis left “a special mark,” while also describing his battle with Novak Djokovic as a “incredible challenge.”
Many consider the rivalry between Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic to be among the strongest in tennis, if not all sports.
Nadal went 24-16 in his 40 meetings with Federer, which spanned 15 years from 2004 to 2019. The ‘King of Clay’ won ten of his fourteen Grand Slam matches against the Swiss.
The Spaniard met Djokovic a men’s Open Era record 60 times, from 2006 to 2024, with the Serbian leading 31-29. Nadal won 11 of their 18 major matches.
In an interview with AS, Nadal, who will retire next month, discussed his rivalries with each of his ‘Big Three’ opponents.
“Djokovic is the player I’ve played against the most, but Federer has been my biggest rival. Because when I initially arrived on the circuit, Federer was there, and he was the first,” remarked the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
“I was at my best in every sense of the term during the years I spent with Roger and Novak. Roger, on the other hand, was constantly present during the first years, which create an indelible impression on you.
“I believe, for reasons I cannot explain, that my rivalry with the two of them has been more fierce than theirs. I am not sure why, but I believe that is how the world views it. We would have to investigate the reason.
With Roger, I am confident that it was due to a stark contrast in styles and approaches to the sport.
“With Novak, of course, it’s been a huge task. Finally, he is a player who has been able to sustain a high level of play while also improving year after year.
“The numbers say that he is the best, so his tennis level has also been the best and, in addition, he is the one who has managed to stay the furthest away from injuries.”
Federer retired in 2022, and Nadal will play his farewell event at next month’s Davis Cup Finals knockout stage in Malaga.
