Overview

• Djokovic told Corriere della Sera that true friendship with Rafael Nadal was impossible because they were direct competitors, though they respected each other and were never enemies.
• He said he admired Roger Federer’s impact on the sport but was never close to him on a personal level.
• Djokovic credited both rivals with helping him grow as a player, describing their influence as a lasting bond from years at the top of men’s tennis.
• Their head‑to‑head histories remain defining: Djokovic leads Nadal 31–29 across 60 meetings and leads Federer 27–23 from 50 matches.
• With Federer retired since the 2022 Laver Cup and Nadal since the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, Djokovic is the only active member of the Big Three and has expressed a wish to reconnect with them after he retires.