Fans of the sport have endlessly debated who out of the trio is the greatest, and while this dialogue will surely run for years to come, Nadal has at least provided insight into which of the other two legendary players he hated facing the most.
“I would say Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer,” Nadal admitted to Mundo Deportivo in February when asked about his most formidable opponents. “It’s difficult to choose.
“My career is linked to both of them; the three of us have pushed each other to be better. That is why we have been able to have such a long career.”
While the choice of 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer and 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic comes as little surprise, Nadal has elaborated on which of the pair he thinks of as his greatest opponent.
“Djokovic is the player I’ve faced the most, but for me, my greatest rival has been Federer,” Nadal told AS. “When I arrived on the circuit, it was Federer who was there first. During the years when I was at my best in every sense, it was Roger and Novak. But in the early years, which shape you in a special way, Roger was always there.
“With Roger, it’s clear – it was because of the sharp contrast in styles and the way we approached the game and the sport,” he explained. “With Novak, it’s been an incredible challenge. He’s a player who has maintained a very high level and improved every year.
“The numbers show he’s the best, which means his tennis level has been the best, and he’s also managed to stay the furthest away from injuries.”
When it comes to the next era of men’s tennis, Nadal again singled out an impressive duo, expectedly choosing Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the pair that will now dominate the game.
“They’re both above the rest,” Nadal continued, speaking of Alcaraz and Sinner. “I don’t see any rival who can consistently challenge them. On any given day, of course, there are many great players.
“But in the medium term, there’s no one who can truly compete with them, provided they stay injury-free and continue performing at this level.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk