Few rivalries in sports history have captivated fans the way the “Big Three” era in men’s tennis has. For two decades, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal have dominated Grand Slams, redefined excellence, and split global fandom. While Federer and Nadal were often the crowd favorites, Djokovic has historically received a more mixed reception.
Federer was first to arrive on the scene, winning his first of 20 Grand Slams in 2003. Nadal followed in 2005 and went on to collect 22 titles. Djokovic joined the race in 2008 and now leads the group with a record 24 Major titles. Each has left an indelible mark on the sport, but not all were equally embraced by fans.
According to Nick Kyrgios, however, public perception didn’t always match his personal experience on court. During an appearance on the Nothing Major podcast, Kyrgios was asked who he felt was the most “hated” player among the three. His response may surprise some.
“I couldn’t stand him,” Kyrgios said of Rafael Nadal. “I used to hate and despise him so much when I saw him walking around. He was one guy who always motivated me. If I played him I would get up for it and try and get the best tennis I could possibly play. I didn’t feel that anger towards Federer or Novak when I played them”.
Rafael Nadal of Spain shakes hands at the net after his three set victor against Nick Kyrgios of Australia at Indian Wells. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Kyrgios explained that Nadal’s intense work ethic and the near-universal admiration he received in tennis circles pushed him to rebel against the mold. “If I played Rafa, because everyone in our academies back home idolized him, they were like: ‘He is such a hard worker, he’s this and that.’ I was like ‘I can’t stand this guy.’ I wanted to show people you could just have fun and be chilled and beat people like that,” Kyrgios continued.
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Zverev comes to Djokovic’s defense
Meanwhile, World No. 3 Alexander Zverev offered his own perspective on Novak Djokovic’s polarizing image. Speaking to Tennis365, Zverev argued that Djokovic receives too much criticism, especially considering his dominance and professionalism.
“If he said that he can’t play a semi-final with a Grand Slam, that means he can’t play a semi-final with a Grand Slam,” Zverev said, referencing Djokovic’s injury withdrawal from the Australian Open. “So I think he gets a lot of undeserved hate”.
“Obviously, Roger and Rafa are probably two of the most loved athletes of all time, right? And Novak was spoiling the party a lot for the fans. But you know, all I can say is Novak is genuinely a good guy,” he added.
