Novak Djokovic reveals his pick for the greatest opponent he has ever faced in his career

Tennis has witnessed the rise of countless legends, from its formative years to contemporary stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Yet, few rivalries in the sport’s history can rival the iconic “Big Three” era—Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer—a trio that set the gold standard for excellence on the ATP Tour.

This year marks the first time since 2003 that all three players won’t compete on the ATP circuit, with Djokovic now standing as the sole active member of the “Big Three.” As Nadal and Federer bid farewell to the game, so too did two of the most defining rivalries of Djokovic’s career. However, the Serbian icon didn’t hesitate to name which of the two he considers his greatest opponent.

Speaking at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, Djokovic didn’t hesitate to name his fiercest rival. “I always have memories of great matches at the Caja Mágica, especially against Nadal, who has been the greatest rival of my career, but I also recall some semifinals with Alcaraz,” Djokovic told RTVE.

Djokovic and Nadal have clashed an incredible 60 times, with Djokovic narrowly leading their head-to-head series 31-29. In contrast, Djokovic and Federer met 50 times, with the Serbian star holding a 27-23 advantage.

Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose at the net before their quarter final match on day eleven of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Djokovic on returning to Madrid

After a two-year hiatus, Djokovic is back at the Madrid Open, a tournament he has won three times. The Serbian superstar spoke about his love for playing in Spain and reflected on some of his most iconic matches.

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“I always have very good feelings when I return to Madrid, to Spain. It’s a country I love very much,” Djokovic shared. “I’ve won the Madrid Open three times in my career, with extraordinary matches against Nadal and [Carlos] Alcaraz”.

While Djokovic has played sparingly in Madrid in recent years, he expressed excitement about performing in front of Spanish fans again. “I’ve missed the Spanish public because they know the sport well and respect tennis a lot. I have a good feeling and hope to have a good tournament,” he added.