The world of tennis is experiencing a seismic shift as the iconic “Big Three” era is slowly coming to a close. Rafael Nadal has announced to retire at the end of the season, leaving Novak Djokovic as the last active member of the Big 3 that reshaped men’s tennis for nearly two decades. Roger Federer retired in 2022, and Andy Murray, often considered part of the expanded “Big Four,” followed suit after the Paris 2024 Olympics. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the new heirs of the tennis fraternity. Apart from Big 4, 2020 US Open champion Dominic Theim waved goodbye to the tour this week in Vienna. On the other hand, Richard Gasquet will retire at next year’s Roland Garros.
Nadal on His Greatest Rival: Federer or Djokovic?
In a recent interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Nadal was asked about his biggest rival. The left-hander’s response was clear: Roger Federer. “Djokovic is the player I have faced the most, but for me, my biggest rival has been Federer,” Nadal revealed. “When I arrived on the circuit, it was Federer who was there, and he was the first.”
Nadal further explained, “I think, and I don’t know why, that my rivalry with the two of them has been more intense than the one they had between them. I don’t know exactly what the reason is, but I feel that the world perceives it that way.”
For Nadal, his rivalry with Federer transcended statistics. Their contrasting styles–Federer’s elegance versus Nadal’s tenacity–created some of the most thrilling matches in tennis history. “With Roger, I am clear that it is because it was a very sharp contrast in styles and ways of seeing and approaching the sport. And with Novak, of course, it has been an incredible challenge. In the end, he is a player who has managed to maintain a very high level of play and improve every year.”
Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic: A Legacy of Dominance
While Nadal may personally regard Federer as his greatest rival, the numbers tell a different story when comparing their legacies. On the surface, Nadal is undoubtedly the king of clay, with an astonishing 14 French Open titles. Federer’s supremacy on grass, particularly at Wimbledon, where he won eight titles, is legendary. Meanwhile, Djokovic reigns on hard courts, claiming 14 titles across the Australian and US Opens. His mastery on this surface puts him ahead of Federer, who is a close second. Federer has more US Open titles (5) than Nadal and Djokovic both (4).
However, when examining overall statistics, Djokovic is the most successful. With 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic leads the pack, surpassing Nadal’s 22 and Federer’s 20. He also holds an unprecedented 428 weeks as world No. 1, surpassing Federer’s 310 and Nadal’s 209.
Federer was the first to rise to prominence, capturing his first Wimbledon title in 2003 and establishing himself as the World No. 1 the following year. Nadal’s emergence came in 2005 with his maiden French Open win, and by 2011, Djokovic had joined the fray, ushering in a new era of dominance.
Main Photo Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
