By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist
Long opposed to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the ATP rankings and on the courts, Novak Djokovic is now going it alone. During a recent interview, however, he returned to his relationship with his two eternal rivals, without filter.
One has been enjoying retirement for over a year. The other is coming off a practically blank season and is currently in 244th place in the ATP rankings. Suffice it to say that the hegemony of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal over world tennis has indeed come to an end in recent months. On the other hand, Novak Djokovic remains as dashing as ever and maintains his incredible level as well as his No. 1 status.
At 36 years old, the Serb continues to impose his rule on the courts, where the competition he faces now seems much inferior. Apart from the prodigy Carlos Alcaraz, no one seems able to worry him, which many observers regret from a competitive point of view. Nole took the opportunity to accumulate titles, but also showed some remorse regarding his former rivals.
Novak Djokovic’s confession about Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
Opponents on countless occasions, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have treated fans to some of the most memorable matches in the history of their sport. A priori, these multiple reunions on the ground could have allowed them to form strong and lasting bonds of friendship. However, in a recent interview given to the show 60 Minutesthe Djoker revealed that he is anything but close to his two counterparts:
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There has always been the greatest respect between us, at least for my part. But I really wish we were more friends. Personally, I wish so.
If he therefore dares to take the first step in the direction of Rafa and Roger, Novak knows however that this rapprochement will not happen in the snap of his fingers. He explains :
Obviously, I know that we didn’t necessarily get along very well during our careers off the field. And we are not friends because we have been rivals for a long time and it is difficult as competitors to be very close and reveal the behind the scenes of our lives, how we feel, because it could be used against We.
But we shared the spotlight for so many years. And I think there has always been immense respect between us. In any case, there has always been some on my part towards them. So yeah, I hope that one day, once we all get a little further away from the spotlight, we can sit down and talk. It would be something incredible.
If Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer maintain a cordial relationship away from the courts, Novak Djokovic cannot say the same about the one which links him to the two legends. An observation which he hopes to remedy, their rivalry now being part of the past.
2023-12-12 19:10:00
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