Rafael Nadal reveals his toughest Tennis opponents

Rafael Nadal retired from tennis at last year’s Davis Cup Finals, giving him time to look back on his rivalries with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

While many great players have made history in tennis, Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer are widely seen as the best because of the trophies they won and how they improved the sport.

Nadal played many memorable matches against both men. His 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer, which he won in five sets to claim his first title at SW19, is often called the greatest match ever played.

Another classic was the 2012 Australian Open final against Djokovic, the longest Grand Slam final in history. After an intense battle, Djokovic came out on top.

Many fans were disappointed that neither Federer nor Djokovic was at the stadium for Nadal’s final match at the Davis Cup Finals. Djokovic later explained that they had planned to attend the semi-final, but Spain was knocked out in the quarter-final.

However, Nadal does not seem to feel upset about it. Speaking at Mundo Deportivo’s Gran Gala, he said that both Djokovic and Federer were his toughest opponents, and they all pushed each other to reach greater heights.

“I would say Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer; it’s hard to pick one. My career is connected to both of them. The three of us made each other better. We learned from each other, but without the other two, none of us would have reached the numbers we did.”

Though their rivalries made tennis exciting, Nadal admitted they also took a toll on their bodies. The 38-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent years.

Federer never fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his career, and he still feels knee pain in daily life. Djokovic, though still playing, has also faced more injuries. He had to retire from the 2025 Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev due to a torn hamstring.

Nadal acknowledged the physical pain but said their rivalries helped them improve technically and mentally, allowing them to enjoy long careers on the ATP Tour.

“In some ways, we pushed ourselves to the limit. Physically, it has harmed us, but in terms of tennis and mentality, it has taken us to another level. That’s why we were able to play for so long.”

Tennis remains strong today, with great rivalries in both the ATP and WTA Tours. However, Nadal and Federer are greatly missed. Djokovic has admitted that with their retirements, and Andy Murray’s decline, part of him has already left the sport.