Tennis legend and 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal says he is “proud” that his rivalry with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic was a “positive example” for the next generation of tennis players, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
In a new interview with Andy Roddick, for his podcast Served with Roddick, he was asked about how he thinks their example has influenced the young players in the tour. “I don’t know, I think we, as rivals, show the world that we can be the biggest rivals, but at the same time, we can be colleagues. I mean, I don’t say we’re best friends, but we can have a good personal relationship, you know? And I think that shows a positive example to the next generation. I’m proud of that,” Nadal said.
“We grew with this, in some way, wild rivalry that we had between Roger, Novak, and myself, but at the same time, we were able to not lose perspective and remember that we are human beings,” he explained.
“We don’t fight against each other; we respect each other. I think that helps the new generations understand that you don’t need to hate your opponents. You can respect and appreciate them because, in the end, they are an important part of your life. You don’t need to hate your opponents to give your best. That’s what I think we showed the world,” he concluded.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during the 2022 Laver Cup (Luke Walker/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
During the past 20 years, ahead of their retirements, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic have been the three most dominant players in the ATP Tour. Despite their fierce competition, they have showcased their good relationship, especially during Federer’s emotional farewell during the 2022 Laver Cup.
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Federer on the ‘Big Three’ rivalry
Same as Nadal, Federer also opened up about the ‘Big Three’ rivalry recently. During the premiere on his documentary “Twelve Days,” Federer opened up about their relationship: “Being such big rivals for so long in the biggest of stages, and fans, they argue who is greater, and I get that, but at the end of the day, there’s such mutual respect for one another,” he told Prime Video.
“It’s been great, with Rafa, anyways, with Novak, the same, and Andy, also. And the special thing is that in my final moments on tour, to be surrounded by them, it was epic and I am forever grateful to the guys who were there,” he said about his retirement at the Laver Cup in 2022.
Collectively, the ‘Big Three’ amassed an unprecedented number of Grand Slam titles, with Federer securing 20, Nadal 22, and Djokovic leading with 24. Their head-to-head battles, totaling 150 matches, including 23 Grand Slam finals, showcased not only their individual brilliance but also their ability to elevate the sport’s popularity and competitiveness.
