But what tactics did Nadal employ to get the better of his great rivals?<\/p>\n
“With Federer, the plan was clear,” Nadal told Spanish publication AS<\/a>. “Especially at the beginning: pressure his backhand with high balls repeatedly until he stood still, waiting for the next shot, and then I could switch to his forehand. <\/p>\n “It was a mental effort for me, because I often saw the shot going the other way, but I knew that repeating it on the backhand would tire him mentally. I didn’t always feel like using that tactic, but it was the most feasible.”<\/p>\n ‘Fedal’ moment as Federer and Nadal both left crying after Swiss star’s final match<\/p>\n Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n Shortly before Djokovic joined them at tennis’ apex, Federer and Nadal formed a duopoly and ignited one of the most prolific rivalries in sporting history.<\/p>\n Generally good-natured and cordial in their interactions off the court, aside from the occasional barb, they produced magic on the court and have a combined 42 Grand Slam titles to their names.<\/p>\n Djokovic quickly infiltrated their stranglehold on the sport and, in time, overtook them in accolades.<\/p>\n The Serbian, who recently signalled his ambition to play through to the 2028 Olympic Games<\/a>, has captured 24 Grand Slam titles in his career.<\/p>\n “With Novak, it was more unpredictable,” Nadal said about facing Djokovic. “On clay, it was a bit more unpredictable than on hard courts. On hard courts, in my later years, when my body couldn’t handle certain efforts any more, it was much harder. <\/p>\n “To have a chance, I needed my body to respond, and it wasn’t. I had to shorten points, and beating Novak in two or three shots was very difficult. I sometimes tried to be more aggressive with my serve, but it didn’t work. <\/p>\n “On clay, I did find solutions, and on grass, I also had chances, although I ended up losing those semi-finals [he lost to the Serb in five sets at Wimbledon in 2018]. I felt my chances were better on clay or grass than on hard courts, especially in my later years.”<\/p>\n Djokovic continues a storied career as the only remaining member of the ‘Big Three’ still competing at the top level.<\/p>\n Since the other two have departed the sport, the idea of an exhibition match between Federer and Nadal has consistently been floated, proof that the spectacle of their rivalry endures long after their playing careers.<\/p>\n![\"picture\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3459108-70567328-2560-1440.jpg\")
<\/p>\n