Fractious relationship laid bare between Rafa, Roger and Djoker

The niggle between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, in the red corner, and Djokovic, in the blue, has never been a secret. But now, they’re not shying away from it.

Rafael Nadal celebrates victory over Jason Kubler of Australia at the Brisbane International Picture: AFP

Quotes of the week go to Rafael Nadal. For hitting the nail on the head. For clobbering it like a Roland Garros forehand. For articulating the romance that took his rivalry with Roger Federer to loved-up, hyped-up, candlelit realms of affection and adulation that Novak Djokovic has never quite reached. Despite his best efforts.

The niggle between Nadal and Federer, in the red corner, and Djokovic, in the blue, has never been a secret. But now they’re laying it bare.

The nutshell: Djokovic is the third wheel. On the outer. While Nadal and Federer overcame early feistiness to get along famously, they’ve kept Djokovic out of their little gang. Never welcomed into their club.

Djokovic has been bold enough to go after them, and belligerent and methodically brilliant enough to beat them, and they haven’t taken kindly to it. What Djokovic hasn’t done is befriend them.

Credit where due. Djokovic’s career is one of sport’s all-time most astonishing. He’s taken down the great Nadal and the great Federer by winning more majors than them. Trumping them head-to-head. He’s broken their records like a broken record. It used to be unthinkable that Nadal and Federer, the warrior and the poet, could be upstaged. As Djokovic said last month in an interview with Sports Illustrated: “We are not friends.”

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal share a joke before representing Team Europe at the Laver Cup Picture: Getty Images

Now Nadal has sided with Federer in the GOAT debate. Despite Djokovic having numbers on his side. The 24 majors to Nadal’s 22 and Federer’s 20. Asked to compare his rivals, Nadal told Spanish newspaper El Pais: “Since I have memory, he (Federer) 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.”

Hear, hear. I remember walking into Rod Laver Arena for Australian Open finals between Nadal and Federer. Spine-tingling. The sense of something beyond the occasion. Like Ali versus Frazier, I imagine. Like watching Bradman bat. The absolute joy in the stands. A magic. As opposed to Nadal versus Djokovic. Their 2012 Open final was a mighty battle. Five hours, nearly six hours. You were awed by it. Respected it. Tipped your hat to it. But it didn’t tug at the heart strings like Romeo and – sorry, like Rafael and Roger.

Novak Djokovic is the odd one out in tennis’s Big Three Picture: AFP

Nadal versus Federer will forever be celebrated more than Nadal versus Djokovic. “There are several factors,” Nadal said. “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. I have very good technique, 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. 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.”

I’m not entirely sure Nadal actually said those words. A rival with long hair and an exuberant physique emerges … what’s he writing, a Mills and Boon? At the very least, Nadal has signed off on the remarks, so they convey what he thinks. On Federer, he added: “We have 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. He hasn’t needed to evolve 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 retired at the 2022 Laver Cup. Nadal wept with him. They held hands for a second.

In a famous photo, Djokovic is smiling while standing behind them. Being the outsider has helped him. Motivated him. Fuelled his drive.

Nadal and Federer might disagree, but the three of them have been good for each other. Made each other greater by pursuing each other’s greatness. Nadal started by trying to match Federer. Federer had to improve to catch up to Nadal.

Then came Djokovic. The third wheel hoped they’d get together some day to reminisce about the most incredible era in tennis history.

Djokovic might greet them with Cold Chisel’s Flame Trees: “After all this time, you boys look just the same.” They could play “do you remember so-and-so” but if they keep brushing him, Djokovic could hit them with one last Jimmy Barnes line: “Who needs that sentimental bullshit anyway …”

Asked by Sports Illustrated if he’d ever go out to dinner with Nadal and Federer, Djokovic replied: “I would like to. I would really like to. I mean, obviously, we didn’t get along so well throughout our careers, off the court. And we are not friends because, you know, we’re rivals, and it’s difficult as competitors to be very close and kind of share and give insights to your life or to how you feel because it could be used against you. But we have shared the stage for so many years.

Novak Djokovic applauds Roger Federer after playing his final game of his career in the 2022 Laver Cup in London Picture: AFP

“And I think the greatest respect is always there, at least from my side, towards them.”

Djokovic, Nadal, Federer. It’s good stuff. Who’s the GOAT? How does the question never grow old? What are the parameters? Which player has won the most? Or how they’ve made you feel? Or is that just for musicians?

Or are athletes the same as musicians? Performers. Entertainers. Rihanna has sold more records than The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Queen, Elton John, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. She beats them on results. But that doesn’t make her the GOAT.

“There’s obviously different definitions and opinions and comparing the eras,” Djokovic told Sports Illustrated.

Rafael Nadal hits a return during his defeat of Jason Kubler at the Brisbane International on Thursday Picture: AFP

“Whether you take only numbers or stats, it’s very difficult to compare, obviously, an era where you play with a wooden racquet and nowadays. And where they couldn’t travel by plane before so much and we can travel anywhere today and play more tournaments. So it’s all very relative. I know fans love it (the GOAT debate). I think it’s great that there is a big discussion on that because, ultimately, all of us in tennis want more attention.

“We want more people, more younger generations to come in and get interested in watching tennis, debating about who is the greatest, who has the most titles, or comparing eras and stuff like this.”

Djokovic won’t be a third wheel at the Australian Open. There’s only two of them in the draw. Here’s hoping for Nadal versus the world No.1.

Red corner, blue corner, ding-ding-ding.

It could happen in the first round. Nadal is unapologetic about siding with Federer and he’s unseeded at Melbourne Park.

Another showdown with Djokovic would be a rumble for the ages. And the aged. The only things missing? Hand-holding. The candlelit romance.