Novak Djokovic reveals who’s more talented among Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and himself

Few debates in sports have been as enduring—and passionate—as the one surrounding tennis’ legendary “Big Three.” Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal collectively redefined the modern era of the sport, combining for an astonishing 66 Grand Slam titles and pushing each other to historic heights.

Djokovic, the youngest of the trio, was the last to emerge but ultimately became the most dominant, earning a record 24 Grand Slam titles. Each brought a unique style to the court: Federer with his grace and precision, Nadal with his relentless physicality, and Djokovic with a hybrid of both.

But when asked who was the most talented of the three, Djokovic didn’t hesitate. “Federer is the most talented one, the most beautiful to watch when playing,” the 38-year-old told former Croatian soccer star Slaven Bilić on his podcast. “He uses his energy most efficiently. He moved so lightly, so elegantly and so efficiently, while Nadal is the opposite extreme, he dominated physically”.

Djokovic added that his own game leaned more toward Nadal’s than Federer’s, emphasizing physical endurance and baseline consistency. “I was somewhere in between, but I leaned more towards Nadal’s style of play,” he said. “So more sliding, more running, baseline-focused play and so on”.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic talking during the Laver Cup. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Djokovic reflects on the ‘Big Three’ rivalry

The individual story of each member of the ‘Big Three’ can’t be told without mentioning the other two. All three pushed each other in a healthy rivalry to become the best in the world — and Djokovic readily acknowledges that.

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“Each of us had our own characteristics, and over time as our rivalries developed, they evolved and strengthened,” Djokovic said. “We always say that, all three of us, and I know they’ve said it too. Through those rivalries, we each contributed to one other’s growth as tennis players and as people”.

And while Djokovic has accumulated more Majors than either of his two counterparts, he remains clear on just how crucial their presence was to his development.

“I say it without hesitation, my rivalries with those two had the biggest influence on my development, especially in the second part of my career from 2011 onward,” he added.