The 37-year-old has said he feels “very proud” and “totally honoured” to have played a part in the holy triumvirate of modern tennis but has always maintained he was never close with them on a personal level. However, he also spoke of Federer and Nadal initially blocking his route to more major titles early in his career, and it appears that friction may have impeded him from developing a true connection with either peer.
“For many years, I saw them more often than my mother,” he told Argentinian newspaper La Nacion. “We weren’t close friends, but I can say that we got to know each other well.
“These rivalries bring millions of people to the sport and connect people in a way that is eternal. Eternal. Because even those who are not tennis fans might be fans of one of us. I think everyone is a fan of our matches, it’s something that will last for generations
“I’m very proud of the experience of having played more than 60 matches with Rafa and I don’t know, about 50 with Roger. It’s incredible. I don’t know if there is any rivalry with as many matches as I had with Nadal, for example.”
Djokovic also spoke of the three years between his first and second major titles (2008 and 2011) being “fundamental” for his development.
Fast-forward to today and he’s the last man standing, with Nadal having recently announced he’ll retire from the sport following the upcoming Davis Cup Finals. Djokovic has collected a record-breaking 24 Grand Slam titles and established himself as the greatest of all time in the eyes of many.
While it may not qualify as friendship, Djokovic admitted Federer’s departure from the sport left its mark, just as Nadal’s is likely to as well. After all, the veteran drives so much from his sense of competition, one could argue those rivalries are as much a part of him as any genuine friendship.
“Some people said I was going to be devastated [when Roger retired], but I didn’t believe them,” added Djokovic. “But when I was there [at the 2022 Laver Cup in London] and when I saw that he was actually withdrawing, I was like, ‘Wow, this affects me too.'”
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