The tennis world has witnessed many legendary rivalries, but none compare to the dominance of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer over the past two decades. This iconic trio, known as the āBig Three,ā has redefined the sport, setting records and raising the bar for excellence in an era unlike any other.
Federer was the first to emerge as an unstoppable force, seemingly destined to reign supreme for years. Nadal soon followed, claiming his throne as the king of clay. Then came Djokovic, shaking up the balance of power and taking the competition to new heights.
While each excelled on their preferred surfaces and Grand Slam stages, it was their intense rivalry that compelled them to continuously evolve and elevate their games.
In a January interview with GQ, Djokovic openly shared who he found most intimidating between his two chief rivals. āThe most intimidating? Thatās him (Nadal),ā Djokovic admitted. āIt was him, for sure. Roger also had this huge aura, of courseā.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia (left) shakes hands with Rafael Nadal of Spain after defeating him at the Six Kings Slam 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
He elaborated further, saying Nadalās intensity was unmatched. āAnd before you were playing him, you felt it,ā Djokovic said. āBut he did it more gracefully, I guess, you know? But, I mean Nadal, because we all share locker rooms, so you see the players warming up and so forthā.
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Why Nadal stands out
Djokovic explained that Nadalās intimidating presence stems from the Spaniardās intense pre-match energy. āHe wants to make his presence felt,ā Djokovic said. āYou know? Physical. Iām here. Iām jumping around. Iām ready for a battleā.
From the very beginning, Nadalās aggressive style sets the tone. āIām going to get physical with you from the very beginning. From the first moment, youāre going to hear my grunts,ā Djokovic continued.
āSo thatās very intimidating for a lot of players. And if you are not confident in yourself, you donāt have the self-belief, if you donāt have a clear game plan on what you want to do from the beginning, heās going to eat you alive,ā he added.
Can anyone break Djokovicās records?
As the all-time leader in Grand Slam titles with 24 and a record 36 Grand Slam finals appearances, Djokovic has cemented himself as one of the sportās greatest. However, the Serbian believes his records are not untouchable, pointing to young talents like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as potential successors.
āPeople say my records will never be broken,ā Djokovic said. āI doubt that. I mean, Carlos could be already the next guy. Even Jannik. If they take care of the body, if they do things in a proper way, focus on longevity, focus on the long-term, then they can do it. Carlos has done something no one has done in history for such a young age. So the odds are with him. He is going to complete his [career] Slam very soonā.
