Rafael Nadal: “Federer will have been my greatest rival”

Officially, Rafael Nadal is still a tennis player. The big departure will be in a short month, after the final phase of the Davis Cup. But in the interview he gave this week in As, his first since the announcement of his future retirement, the Mallorcan already often appears in assessment mode. Particularly on the highlights of his career and the links with the two other giants of his era who accompanied him, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

When the Spanish sports daily asked him who, the Swiss or the Serbian, would have been his most notable rival, Nadal did not hesitate: “Djokovic is the player I have faced the most but, for me, Federer will have been my greatest rival.” In terms of accounting, there is actually no photo. He scrapped 40 times with Federer (14 Grand Slam duels), when he battled 60 times with the “Djoker” (18 in the four main tournaments) .

So why turn to Federer rather than Djokovic? “Because when I arrived on the circuit, it was Federer who was there firstNadal puts forward by way of explanation. In my best years it was both Roger and Novak, but in the early years, the ones that leave a bigger mark on you, Roger was always there.”

Each of these rivalries between members of the Big 3 will have produced its epic moments and unforgettable matches, but Rafael Nadal raises an interesting point. According to him, he found himself at the center of the most intense episodes. “I think, and I don’t know why, but I have the feeling that my rivalry with each of them was stronger than the rivalry they had between the two of them, said the man with 14 titles at Roland-Garros. I don’t know exactly what the reason is. But I feel like everyone sees it that way too..”

However, it is not necessary to push him much longer for him to give certain reasons. “As for Roger, it’s quite clear, it’s because there was a very clear contrast between our styleshe specifies. As for Novak, it was an incredible challenge. He is a player who has managed to maintain such a high level constantly and improve year after year.“Djokovic whom he recognizes today”that the statistics and results say that he was the best, therefore his level of tennis was the highest.”

For Nadal, Djokovic also had an additional talent to stay further away from the infirmary than him. “He is the one who managed to be healthy most of the time, to stay away from injuries most of the timerecalls the champion of Manacor. When you are not limited by injuries that last too long, not only are you not affected physically, but it also establishes an absence of fear on a mental level..”

And the former world number one gave Djokovic’s style as an example, particularly his way of moving on the court: “You are no longer afraid of getting hurt or slipping. Djokovic even slides on hard, like Carlos (Alcaraz) does today. Because they are not afraid of injury. I did that at the beginning of my career but when certain things happen to you, you have to find other ways of doing things. All this helps Novak to constantly maintain his level of tennis and his mental level.” But Nadal assures him, he is here more in the observation than in the regret. “It’s not an excuse, he specifies. Because of that, Novak is the best and he deserves it.”