Despite Huge Respect for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Minces No Words as He Retorts Sharply to His Spanish Rival’s Accusation

Once a rival, always a rival! Previously, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer might have given Novak Djokovic a tough time on the tennis court, but now that the Spaniard is out of the tournament, the way they used to face off has changed. For now, the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s words might have hurt his rival, the 36-year-old Serbian tennis star. But rather than worrying about the comment, Djokovic is ready to give back with a response.

Just a few days ago, the Spaniard made a comment regarding the current world’s number-one tennis player’s Grand Slam streak. But now, days after the comment, Serb stood up for himself and shared his opinion regarding Nadal’s frank admission.

Novak Djokovic reply to Nadal’s frank admission 

The 36-year-old tennis star knows how to give it back. And this time, rather than giving an answer with his racket, Djokovic chose wise words to put up a disagreement with Nadal’s take. Last month, the 37-year-old Spaniard unintentionally made a statement regarding the Serb’s life. According to Forbes, he said, “Novak could be frustrated because he lives everything more intensely, and that’s why he’s the best.” 

But that was not the major highlight; recently, the 2023 French Open champion came across a statement regarding how he might be frustrated if he didn’t win the highest number of major titles. Although he had huge respect for both his Big Three opponents, he made a statement regarding his stand against Federer and Nadal in an interview with Tennis Major. Along with that, he also provided the Spaniard with a savvy response.

He said, “I have no intention of speaking in a negative light about him or Roger Federer – my respect towards them supersedes some negative opinions I might have. Again, that’s Rafa’s opinion and I, of course, don’t agree. I have my opinion, but I won’t share it as I don’t want us to go deeper into that. There is no need for that.” 

READ MORE – Novak Djokovic’s Most ‘Underrated’ Quality Dissected as Serena Williams’ Former Coach Delves Into the Serbinator’s Game

Rather than going further, the world’s number-one-ranked tennis player chooses to keep his opinion to himself, but at the same time, he makes it clear that he does not agree with those words. Nevertheless, do you know there was a time when the 2022 Australian Open Champion’s undivided determination towards tennis scared the 37-year-old tennis legend on the tennis court?

When Djokovic scared Nadal on the tennis court 

The Spaniard, in his autobiography, ‘Rafa: My Story’ shared a moment where he was put up against the 24-time Grand Slam champion to play the quarterfinals of the French Open back in 2006. In that, he revealed that he made it to the final of the Grand Slam tournament after going through a tougher match against the Serb.

Nadal talked about how, even after being a year younger than him, Djokovic was quite temperamental but at the same time highly talented. The 2022 Australian Open champion was not a temporary force, and Rafa knew how he would give tough competition to both himself and his other star of that era, Federer. Above all, he explained how Djokovic carried big ambitions and a winning temperament, making him a little scary on the court.

Leaving everything aside, what do you think about Djokovic’s calm way of disagreeing with Nadal’s words? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer