24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has said that it was not possible to be friends with his former rival Rafael Nadal, even though he had seen him more than his own mother, in the last 15 years, The 38-year-old said that it was not possible to be friends with rival players, adding that he had a lot of respect for Roger Federer, but was never close to him.
The Swiss legend retired from competitive tennis after the Laver Cup in 2022, while the Spaniard announced his retirement in October 2024. Djokovic enjoyed a superior head-to-head against both players during their playing careers.
“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. I have always respected and greatly admired him. Thanks to him and Federer, I grew up and became who I am.”
“This will unite us forever, therefore, I feel gratitude towards them. Nadal is a part of my life, in the last 15 years, I’ve seen more of him than my mum. We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies.”
“I’ve always had respect for Federer, he was one of the greatest of all time. He had an extraordinary impact, but I’ve never been close to him,” Djokovic told Corriere Della Sera.
The Serbian’s tally has stood at 24 slams since he won the US Open in 2023. Since then, he has seen young guns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz win each of the next eight slams. However, he did beat the latter in the 2024 Paris Olympics final to join an illustrious list to have won all four slams and the Olympic gold, thereby completing the Golden Slam.
Djokovic lost in the semi-final of the recently concluded Shanghai Masters, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Valentin Vacherot. He admitted after the match that the better player had won on the day.
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“It’s all about him. I wish him all the best in the final, and the better player won today,” he said.
Vacherot did go on to beat Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final to become the lowest-ranked player (204) ever to win a Masters 1000 title on Sunday.
