Novak Djokovic lately opened up about who he believes is probably the most inherently gifted participant among the many tennis greats, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and himself.
That dialogue befell throughout an look on a podcast with Slaven Bilic, the place Djokovic framed the Large Three period as unforgettable but distinctly outlined by every participant’s distinctive attributes.
Djokovic started by explaining what set Federer aside in his eyes:
“Federer is probably the most proficient one, probably the most lovely to look at when enjoying,” the 38 yr previous mentioned. “He makes use of his vitality most effectively. He moved so evenly, so elegantly and so effectively, whereas Nadal is the alternative excessive, he dominated bodily.”
That single assertion gives a telling distinction. Federer‘s easy grace on court-his seamless footwork and poetic shotmaking-has lengthy impressed each followers and friends.
Djokovic‘s phrases validate why many think about Federer the visible embodiment of tennis artistry.
Djokovic did not cease there. He supplied his personal self-assessment:
“I used to be someplace in between, however I leaned extra in direction of Nadal’s type of play. So extra sliding, extra working, baselinefocused play and so forth.”
This displays Djokovic‘s grittier, relentless baseline game-built for lengthy rallies and psychological endurance akin to Nadal‘s claycourt mastery reasonably than Federer‘s balletic strategy.
How their rivalry fueled progress and excellence
Djokovic underscored how a lot he discovered from competing along with his two legendary rivals, saying:
“Every of us had our personal traits, and over time as our rivalries developed, they developed and strengthened. We all the time say that, all three of us… By way of these rivalries, we every contributed to 1 different’s progress as tennis gamers and as individuals.”
He additionally pinpointed a transformative interval round 2011 when his profession trajectory shifted decisively, due to the extraordinary competitors:
“I say it with out hesitation, my rivalries with these two had the largest affect on my improvement, particularly within the second a part of my profession from 2011 onward.”
That period, marked by epic encounters just like the 2012 Australian Open remaining towards Nadal and the marathon 2019 Wimbledon remaining versus Federer, sealed Djokovic‘s legacy. He now holds a file 24 Grand Slams, in contrast with Nadal‘s 22 and Federer‘s 20.
Djokovic‘s feedback transcend mere admiration; they mirror a deep understanding of how every participant complemented and challenged the others.
Although he acknowledged Federer‘s chic pure expertise, Djokovic‘s personal perseverance, adaptability, and bodily prowess cast his model of greatness.
His self-awareness is noteworthy. Whereas he lauded Federer‘s artistry, he additionally implied that his grounded, baselinewarrior type gave him an edge in longevity and success throughout all surfaces.
Djokovic has reached unmatched heights: holding the file for many weeks at No.1, a dominant headtohead file towards each Nadal and Federer, and the one man to finish a double Profession Grand Slam. That implies supreme talent not solely in moments of brilliance however in sustained dominance.
