“I’ve never said a single bad word about Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer” – Novak Djokovic gets honest about his relationship with the duo
Novak Djokovic Opens Up on Respectful Bond with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer Amid Rivalry
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, recently spoke candidly about his relationship with tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, emphasizing his unwavering respect for the duo despite their fierce on-court rivalry. In a June 2025 interview on Serbian television with Slavenka Bilića, Djokovic stated, “I’ve always respected both him and Federer; I’ve never said a single bad word about them and never will. I looked up to them and still do,” highlighting his admiration for the “Big Three” counterparts, per. The Serb, now 37, reflected on feeling like an “unwanted child” in the tennis world early in his career, as fans gravitated toward the Nadal-Federer rivalry, per.[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-i-ve-never-said-single-bad-word-rafael-nadal-roger-federer-novak-djokovic-gets-honest-relationship-duo)[](https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/1933235067608052197)
Djokovic admitted to a closer connection with Nadal, saying, “I’ve always gotten along better with them,” but acknowledged the professional distance that defined their relationships, per. He explained the challenge of forming friendships as rivals, noting, “It’s very difficult to be friends while you’re on tour… when you’re No. 1, 2, 3 in the world,” in a January 2025 GQ interview, per. Despite this, he expressed a desire for a future candid conversation, saying, “I do wish to have a drink or two with them and just open up… Let’s put it all out there,” to reflect on their storied rivalry, per.[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/atp-tennis-news-its-very-difficult-to-be-friends-novak-djokovic-revisits-relationship-struggles-with-roger-federer-and-rafael-nadal-ahead-of-monte-carlo-masters/)[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/1998337/Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-Rafael-Nadal-invitation-honest-chat)[](https://x.com/Nadallica86/status/1932898483117367489)
The Serb’s comments came amid a season where he reached the French Open and Wimbledon 2025 semi-finals and won his 100th ATP title in Geneva, per. Fans on X, like @Nadallica86, praised his honesty, while @festivetables noted his early struggles for acceptance, per,. Djokovic’s reflections underscore a complex dynamic of respect and rivalry as he chases a 25th Grand Slam at Wimbledon (June 30-July 13), per.[]
