Novak Djokovic recently opened up about his fiercest rival between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, while also reflecting on the most defining moments of his illustrious career. As part of the iconic trio often referred to as the “Big Three” of tennis, Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer dominate the record books with their Grand Slam achievements, collectively claiming 66 of the 81 men’s majors since Federer’s first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon in 2003. With Djokovic leading at 24, Nadal following closely with 22, and Federer rounding off the trio with 20, these three players have reshaped the sport over the past two decades.
Throughout their careers, Djokovic’s rivalry with both Nadal and Federer has been nothing short of legendary. Their matchups, totaling 110 encounters, represent two of the most prolific and thrilling rivalries in the history of tennis. Djokovic holds a slight edge over Nadal with a 31-29 record from 60 meetings, while against Federer, the Serbian has won 27 of their 50 encounters.
Despite a recent early exit at the Qatar Open, where he was defeated by Matteo Berrettini in the first round, Djokovic continues to assert his dominance on the court. Speaking as the Global Brand Ambassador for Qatar Airways, the 37-year-old was asked which opponent stands out as his greatest challenge. Without hesitation, Djokovic replied, “You probably know the names Federer and Nadal. I would say Nadal would be the one that probably stands out as my biggest opponent and biggest rival. Yes.”
Beyond the intense rivalries, Djokovic was also prompted to highlight the crowning achievements of his career. While he admitted that his best moment is always “the next winning moment,” with a chuckle, he shared more seriously, “In tennis, you have to get used to turning the next page and focusing on the next task very quickly.” Reflecting on his illustrious journey, he revealed that the 20 years of relentless competition have been filled with “the greatest achievements” the sport has to offer. However, when asked for his single biggest highlight, Djokovic pointed to his Olympic gold medal win in 2024, proudly stating, “I would say the gold medal for my country last year would be probably the highlight of my entire career.”
The Serbian champion also reminisced about the early days of his tennis journey, revealing the serendipitous way in which he fell in love with the sport. Growing up in the mountainous regions of Serbia, Djokovic recounted how his passion for tennis started at just four or five years old. “It happened by accident, even though in life there are no accidents; everything happens for a reason,” he said. His introduction to tennis occurred when he saw workers constructing tennis courts in his village. Intrigued, young Djokovic would help the workers by bringing them drinks, and in return, he was granted free playtime on the courts as they were being built. This simple act led to his lifelong love for the game.
It’s clear that Djokovic’s journey, from those early days on the courts of Serbia to standing among the sport’s all-time greats, has been shaped by both passion and chance—a beautiful combination that continues to fuel his incredible career.