Rafael Nadal makes feelings clear on Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in open letter

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer

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”.

However, Nadal has now shed light on his approach to their legendary rivalry, stating that he never “hated” any of his opponents. “I hope that my legacy is that I always tried to treat others with deep respect,” the Spaniard penned for The Players’ Tribune.

“This was the golden rule of my parents. When I was a kid, my father would always tell me, ‘Inventing is hard. Copying is much easier.’ He wasn’t talking about tennis. It was about life.

“Look around you and notice the people you admire. How they treat people. What you love about them. Act like them, and you will probably live a happy life.”