Roger Federer says Novak Djokovic \u2018doesn\u2019t understand\u2019 the shared bond that has been created between himself, the Swiss, and Rafael Nadal.<\/p>\n
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has, largely, kept a low profile within tennis since his retirement in 2022, making rare appearances at each year\u2019s Laver Cup, as well as other sponsorship obligations.<\/p>\n
However, he recently opened up about the insight which he has gained since hanging up his racket about the historical and personal significance of the Big Three rivalry.<\/p>\n
\u201cRivalries like that create a huge bond,\u201d remarked Federer<\/a>, during an interview with Tages-Anzeiger<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI see it very differently today than before, with much more distance.<\/p>\n \u201cNovak doesn\u2019t know what that\u2019s like yet. Rafa is slowly getting there. When you\u2019re still playing, you can\u2019t think about it the way I do today.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more time passes, the less you identify yourself as an individual player and the more you see the big picture.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s funny is: Someone might have taken something totally personally\u2014and you can\u2019t even remember it anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m definitely up for sitting down together and talking about the good old days.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments were made after he was officially elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, with his induction to be carried out in 2026.<\/p>\n As he alluded to, Nadal recently retired at the Davis Cup Finals in 2024 after a legendary career.<\/p>\n In May, he was treated to a ceremony at his beloved French Open \u2013 an event which he won on 14 occasions \u2013 and appeared very emotional, with the pain of the end of his career still raw.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Djokovic is continuing to compete amongst the sport\u2019s elite, making the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams in 2025 and ending the year as the fourth-highest-ranked player in the world.<\/p>\n The Serb, despite being an active player, has always been more forthright when speaking about his relationships with Federer and Nadal.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t reflect fully on everything I have been through,\u201d admitted Djokovic, during a press conference at the 2025 edition of Wimbledon.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to, but I think that\u2019s going to come probably when I set the racket aside and I sip a margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything!\u201d<\/p>\n In total, the three players won 66 Grand Slams, 14 Masters 1000s, and claimed the top spot in the ATP rankings for 947 weeks.<\/p>\n Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer faced off against each other on 150 occasions, with the Serb leading the head-to-head against both of his rivals.<\/p>\n Latest Tennis News<\/p>\n