Rafael Nadal has opened up about his true feelings towards Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer during his time on the court.
The ex-world No. 1 offered a revealing glimpse into how he handled his rivalries in an open letter reflecting on his illustrious career. Nadal disclosed that he had a “golden rule” instilled by his parents which he applied to every tennis match, even those against his fiercest rivals.
The 38-year-old recently hung up his racket at the Davis Cup Finals, bowing out when Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinal. An emotional ceremony was held in Nadal’s honor, where he addressed the crowd before a tribute video was played.
Both Djokovic and Federer made appearances in the video. Djokovic expressed gratitude to Nadal for making him a better player, while Federer stated it was a “privilege” to compete against him.
Despite the current camaraderie among the trio, they spent years engaged in intense, heated battles, striving to carve their names in the annals of tennis history. Djokovic has even confessed that they were never “friends”.