Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slams as of 2024, more than any other man and tied with Margaret Court. He moved ahead of Nadal with 22 and Federer’s 20 by winning the 2023 French Open, the tournament which his Spanish rival relished.

While many fans believe Nadal is the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), especially on clay courts, others point to Federer, who set the standard that others have followed, and Nadal believes the Swiss former player was the most significant opponent of his storied career.

“I’ve played Djokovic more than anyone else, but for me, my biggest rival was Federer”, Nadal explained. “When I came onto the circuit, Federer was already there, and he was the first. In the prime years of my career, it was Roger and Novak. But in those early years, which are so impactful, it was always Roger.

“I think, and I don’t know why, that my rivalries with both of them were more intense than the one they had with each other. I’m not sure why, but I feel like the world sees it that way too. Maybe with Roger, it was because our styles and approaches to the sport were so contrasting. And with Novak, it was an incredible challenge.”

Nadal will retire at the Davis Cup in the Final 8 stage in Malaga, which begins on 19 November with Spain’s quarter-final tie against the Netherlands.