In a candid conversation with former world No 1, Andy Roddick on his podcast ‘Served’, 22-time Grand Slam titleholder Rafael Nadal offered a fresh perspective on his rivalries with fellow tennis greats, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The striking contrast between his match dynamics with the two players, he believes, has shaped fans’ preference for his face-offs with Federer.
Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic, the triumvirate that has collectively claimed an astounding 66 Grand Slam titles, have redefined the sport’s history. Yet, Nadal insists that the allure of his matches with Federer outshines the ones with Djokovic, at least for the audience.
“The rivalry with Roger was a tad more captivating for the spectators than with Novak,” Nadal confessed. He rationalized that despite having played Djokovic more often and in equally high-stakes matches, the strategic clarity of his games with Federer added a unique charm.
The strategy was simple yet engaging: Nadal would relentlessly target Federer’s backhand, occasionally mixing up with a shot down the line to unsettle Federer or aim for a winning shot. Federer, on the other hand, would strive to sidestep this strategy, adopting a more aggressive approach.
“It was a game of chess, with everyone aware of the impending moves and strategies,” Nadal described. He further lauded Federer’s forehand as the best he has ever encountered, necessitating him to step back every time Federer got ready to deliver one.
In contrast, Nadal’s games with Djokovic presented a different challenge. The Spaniard conceded Roddick’s theory that the mutual competition among the three most victorious men in tennis was a crucial catalyst in their journey to rewrite the sport’s record books.
Nadal admitted that his approach against Djokovic was not as clear-cut as it was against Federer. “We don’t play the same style, and there isn’t a distinct strategy against Novak,” Nadal stated. Instead of focusing on his backhand, as with Federer, Nadal used a slice against Djokovic, often playing more to the middle to limit his angles.
Despite his rivalry with Djokovic not evolving into a strong friendship like with Federer, Nadal had nothing but high praise for the Serbian player. “In terms of ball control, Djokovic is the best player I’ve ever faced or seen,” Nadal said, cementing Djokovic’s position as a formidable opponent and one of the most successful male tennis players of all time.
