Spanish
Novak Djokovic dominated men's tennis alongside Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for a long time. Beyond sharing the top spot in the ATP ranking and battling in each Grand Slam for the title, they marked an era in the discipline that will be difficult to forget. Currently, the Serbian is the only one still active and explained why he can never be friends with the other two legends of the sport.
Although Nole acknowledges a deep respect and gratitude towards his historic rivals, he maintains that the intensity of the competition they shared for about two decades prevented any genuine bond of friendship. "Nadal is only a year older than me, we are both Geminis, at first we even went to dinner together, twice.
But even with him, friendship is impossible," he explained in a recent interview with the newspaper Corriere della Sera, in which he also clarified that the rivalry at the top of world tennis marked an insurmountable barrier on a personal level.
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Djokovic, who at 38 years old continues to be active on the professional circuit, detailed that the nature of the competition with Nadal and Federer was so fierce that there was never the possibility of a close relationship off the court. "I have always respected and admired him enormously. Thanks to him and Federer, I grew and became who I am," said the Serbian, who also remarked that, although they were never friends, there was no enmity between them either. In the case of Federer, Djokovic was even clearer: "I have always had respect for Federer, he was one of the greatest of all time. He had an extraordinary impact, but I have never been close to him," he added in statements shared by the Italian media.
Mutual respect and influence among these three tennis players were crucial in the evolution of their careers. Djokovic acknowledges that both Nadal and Federer were fundamental drivers in his professional development, pushing him to excel and reach the highest competitive level. Admiration is not only reflected in words, but also in the way each one raised the standard of world tennis, forcing the other two to constantly reinvent themselves to stay at the top.
Source: INFOBAE
