The relationship between Novak Djokovic and his Big Three opponents has been made public.
In an open assessment of his rivalries with both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic has stated that he feels more akin to the latter. Despite being the only one of the Big Three still active, the seasoned Serb seems to be nearing the end of his own playing days. He hinted that it may have been his last encounter at Roland Garros after losing to someone else at the French Open earlier this month.
Perhaps the greatest period in tennis history will come to an end when he inevitably retires. It has been defined by the long-running competition between Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal, in which all three players are far superior to one another. Djokovic did not take it personally, despite their chilly relationship during their playing days.
“Just because someone is my biggest rival doesn’t mean I hate them, wish them harm, or want to do anything else on the court to defeat them,” Slaven Bilic stated in an interview with Failure of Champions. The superior player prevailed in our battle for victory.
“I’ve never said a single bad word about them and never will,” Djokovic added, revealing that he has always had a stronger relationship with Nadal than Federer. Although I still hold them in high regard, I’ve always gotten along better with Rafael Nadal.”
Djokovic, who was the most successful of the Big Three in terms of Grand Slam titles, said that he always felt like the underdog when reflecting on his debut as one of them.
His tendency to be the most irascible of the three stemmed from his belief that he needed to demonstrate his worth more than his competitors.
“I acted and still felt like an unwanted child,” Djokovic admitted. “I asked myself the reason behind that. It was painful. Additionally, I believed that if I behaved differently, the audience would welcome me, but that was also untrue.
“Because I wasn’t intended to be there, I was never as liked as Federer and Nadal. ‘I’m going to be No 1’ was the statement I made as the third guy and the little one. That was disliked by many.
However, Djokovic made it apparent that he had no remorse, saying: “I am a man with many shortcomings, of course. I have, however, always made an effort to live a life that is sincere, pure, and ultimately true to who I am.
