Spanish El País published an interview with Rafael Nadal while he was practicing in Kuwait to prepare for the new season. In the last part of that interview, Rafa was asked about Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz, so here are Google-translated excerpts from that interview.
Djokovic has said that you intimidated him in the locker rooms by running, jumping, and huffing next to him.
Never, never, never was my intention. I warm up like that, trying to be prepared and ready to go, and I work out, nothing more. I haven’t heard what he said, honestly.
Why is there so much talk about Federer-Nadal and so little about Djokovic-Nadal or Djokovic-Federer, even though they are also great matches, and Djokovic is the player with the most Grand Slams in history?
There are several factors. Some I won’t tell you because it’s difficult for me, it’s not my place to comment on them. But in terms of tennis, it’s clear. It’s a combination of very radical styles. Federer was perfection in terms of aesthetics, elegance, and technique. (Note: I have very good technique, a lot, but technique is not the same as aesthetics. They are two different things. He had incredible technique, doing things beautifully with impressive elegance). When I arrived, he was the number one in the world, and a rival with long hair and an exuberant physique emerges. Elegance against a warrior. There was a unique combination of personalities and styles, and that, combined with playing many matches on the most important stages, turned our rivalry into something that transcended more than any other match.
… We have all reinvented ourselves, that’s why there has been this intense rivalry: we always surprised each other. Djokovic as well, but with a difference compared to the two of us (and he has his own tremendous merit): he has evolved his game—champions always do—but he hasn’t needed to evolve it as much as we have. He hasn’t suffered as many injuries. The only thing that has demanded him to improve his game has been his rivals, not physical issues. That’s a difference. Federer doesn’t get injured much either, but he had a rival, which was me, who punished his only weakness. And I could do that because I was left-handed. If I had been right-handed, I couldn’t have punished it.
Djokovic.
He has greatly enhanced his strengths but has not radically adapted his game. I had a very marked tactic to play against Federer; he knew what I would seek, and I knew he would try to defend himself. It was a chess game. And when you made a mistake, you knew it. With Djokovic, there isn’t that level of strategy in the matches. You have to play at a very high level for a long time to beat him; it’s different.
Federer.
When he returns in 2017, after his injury, he makes a very important change. He switches to a larger racket, which hits harder, and makes a mental change. As he knows he can’t run like before, he becomes a much more aggressive player, and it hurts me a lot. He was a better player than me on hard courts, but until that moment, I think I had beaten him more times there. But he reinvents himself and takes another turn in his game: hyper-aggressive. My tactic of punishing his backhand still works, but it doesn’t have as much effect because he doesn’t let me: he plays very quickly. He doesn’t allow me to repeat against his weak point. It’s something he had been mistaken about in his career: he let me repeat shots to his backhand. His response was a sliced backhand, and I have a very good shot when it’s sliced, it doesn’t bother me, I like to return it, and I return it strongly, I’m not uncomfortable.
Would you have liked to be Federer if you hadn’t been Rafa Nadal?
Since I have memory, he is the player who has impressed me the most, the one who has entertained me the most, the one who has moved me the most. Watching Federer play has moved me more than Djokovic, and in the end, tennis is about emotion; it’s the emotion that draws you to it.
Alcaraz.
I’ve played very little against him. Since he joined the circuit, I’ve spent more time injured than on the court. But he has a very complete game. He possesses very brilliant skills in almost all aspects.
If you speak Spanish (or use a translator), you can read the full interview HERE.
Signing off, don’t want to crash all your dreams
The first bit of what you said is the most sensible thing you’ve ever said, ever.
Sign off. Hurry up about it. Byeeeeeeee
How old are you? Five years old child has better vocabulary than you
Oh, mother irony. “Five years old child”
Gimme strength.
The only goat that your man has anything to do with is the one he takes to bed every night.
About the matches between big three ，I have never seen a more accurate analysis than Rafa‘s.
Novak doesn’t need to appreciated by the mass. He has got a class supporters.He can crash ant opponent. His I.Q. his so sharp. He reads his opponent game so quickly and punishes the opponent’ weaknesses. He doesn’t fear anybody. He can be beaten by anybody and come back to him so quickly and punishes him. He has also been injured and out of court from 1996 to 1998. He could have left tennis at that critical time, but he came back and destroyed all of them. Its only during his absence that raffa n Roger 2 AO & 2 SW19 and again Raffa won AO in 2022 when Novak was expelled from Australia.
Em, how much you had to drink on new years eve?
About 80% of that made zero sense.
Well done for giving a response that was more than one word though.
Your use of IQ, oh, mother irony.
Poor you, trying so hard to make a case for Djokovic. The fact is that his supporters have no class at all. Just look at the toxic ones who have come here to spread their poison and that will give you an indication!
If you feel that Rafa shouldn’t have won AO22, then Djokovic had no right to RG23 when Rafa wasn’t there. BTW, Rafa is leading at RG 8-2 including 3 GF’s.
No
I’ve always thought this. Djokobitch super fans are as equally wretched and disgusting as the man himself, which can be seen very clearly above.
As soon as Rafa is back, they come crawling out the woodwork, spewing their hatred and vileness.
I feel sorry for them.
Thank you. Could not agree more!! Happy New Year.
To you too. Happy new year.
In fact, let’s forget all the hatred from these… people and all be happy.
Happy new year to everyone in this forum and I wish you all kinds of amazing and wonderful greatness for 2024.
Xxxx
Why is that person not responding to his posts comments? Love Rafa!
Hi, Your thoughts? The hate comments are Ai/Bot generated?
I don’t think it is an AI or bot.
It’s an extremely sad, hateful person, or people. Humans, who are, just pityful, in truth.
Ah, I think I get what you mean by the “….. people” comment.
They are humans who are sub-human.
I will never hide my dislike of Dopeovic and his sad, sad, pathetic super-fans.
They come on here to try and wind up true Rafanites. Not gonna happen.
Rafa tells the absolute and utter honest truth as he sees it, with no PR bullshit designed to make him more likeable.
The absolute opposite of Dopeovic.
Most of the great matches that were played between 3 of them Novak won, so whatever he commented, it is understandable and laughable. Salute.
WO
Can you please publish the full interview, even if not translate? I would really like to read the full interview. Thank you 🙂
I thought his comments on both Roger and Djokovic were as fair as possible. His analysis of their skills and techniques appear spot on as well.
Extremely poor character and a very jealous opponent. Obviously, the reporting was only to provoke more negative energy, which will only backfire again. Disrespectful and sly interview with minimal or no merit. Sad to see this being brought up now. Why are you so weak and stooping to such a low level. I would think you wouldn’t have it in you to be SOOOO ENVIOUS.
May you seek guidance and nurturing of your negativity and jealousy, and misinterpretation if other tennis players, before it eats away at your insides. I use to like your silence. Better to keep quiet because you will keep losing all your fans and anyone who liked you with a tennis racquet and your obsessive compulsive disorders. 🙏🙏🙏
“Tennis intelligence”? That’s a misnomer if ever heard one! You’re talking utter rubbish with your ranting! Rafa was absolutely right in his analysis. Maybe you need to look at the personal qualities of your idol Djokovic to see why he isn’t as popular. Didn’t Sinner win the ATP Fans’ Favourite Award? There’s a reason why Djokovic didn’t. Ivanisevic, his sidekick, didn’t win the coach award either!
Your knee jerk reaction is laughable, so I think it’s better that YOU to keep quiet and get off this site if you have nothing constructive to say.
Lorna, Thank you! Spot on!
What is your problem? To express such a hatefulness is not only sad but worrisome and inspire questions about your physiological health. You are Nadal fan, and I don’t have a problem with that, but why hate the GOAT Novak so much? Did he do something to you? Do you know him? Or do you have a problem who he is and where he is from? That he is intelligent, smart enough to understand and speak 5-6 languages? The same question goes to all who comment like you .
“ physiological health”.
“ A physical state that is not defined by just the absence of disease but also lifestyle behaviour choices that ensure health, avoid preventable diseases and conditions, and create a balanced state of body, mind, and spirit”
I think it’s your man, the plague carrying, aggressive, racquet smasher that has a problem with physiological health.
Sadly, Mr. Tennis Intelligence, YOU are jealous and have a large chip on your shoulder, just like your idol, Joko. Is quite obvious why Novak is greatly disliked. He is no role model for anyone given his position. Your comments are inappropriate.
Wow this person dunc is such a smarty. Did you find everything else about Nole? Must be hard for you to live with so much brain. Take a deep breath and calm down. Will be easier for you to except the fact that Nole is a star you can’t reach .
Terribly sorry but I couldn’t read through your entire post.
Need to stay awake for an Amazon delivery arriving and I could feel my eyelids getting heavy.
Wow! Bringing mental health in to the debate.
You’re a horrible person.
Dunc you need help. My comment didn’t sprout hatred or malice like yours which says who is horrible person.
If you’re going to insult me, at least learn to speak proper English first.
Bore off.
😂🤣…. You are trying to be a shock jock on Rafa’s fan site! Doesn’t work and like Lorna said you speak rubbish with no merit! Plz take your rubbish and dump it on Djokovic‘s fan site… ❤️❤️❤️Rafa he is the GOAT !
Novak
I apologize for hurting your feelings with truth, and dunc i can speak English good enough like other 4 languages, but obviously to be multilingual is Greek to you. Cheers!
You’re doing what now?
Righto.
You speak complete rubbish in four languages.
Well done.
Aw bless.
Fedal > Djodal
I think Rafa’s analysis is spot-on, especially that he and Federer have changed their games more over the years than Djokovic has. Also agree that because their styles of play (Federer and Nadal) were so different, they were much more entertaining to watch than any other match-up, at least in my opinion.
Thought his comment “there are several factors. Some I won’t tell you because it’s difficult for me, it’s not my place to comment on them.” was interesting. Wonder if it refers to some of Djokovic’s behaviour both on and off the court. Namely some of the tantrums Djokovic has had on the court and the claims by his family (his father) off-court of how jealous Federer and Nadal are of Djokovic. I think these are also reasons why Djokovic is not as popular as Nadal and Federer and never will be.
Rafa gave a very intelligent and honest analysis of the styles, strategies and techniques of the three rivals.
When asked why the Federer-Nadal rivalry is much more talked about than the ones with Djokovic, he said there are several factors, some which he wouldn’t mention because it’s difficult for him. That’s very doplomatic Rafa, but I think I can read between the lines….
Thoughtful, relaxed photos of Rafa. His comments on Roger and Djoko are insightful, yet
surgically honest-on himself, as well. Such intelligent and precise knowledge-the best tennis brain. So professional with pure respectful emotion❤️
No matter what way we can combine Rafa & Rogers’ names, no other combinations of players will ever put a dint in this iconic twined superstars.Vamos
Fedal > Rafole. Simple as that.
As comments go let’s state the fact. First: Nadal and Federer are good players but Novak is better. Second: Nadal fans know that to be truth and because of that they are full of malice and hatred towards Novak GOAT. Simple as that.
Yawn.
There’s a new bar been set where boring is concerned.