The absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the ATP Tour is a big miss for the tennis world, according to fellow Big 3 rival Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal are unanimously considered the finest tennis trio in tennis history. And for the Serbian, having played second fiddle to his two great rivals throughout their distinguished careers, he has emerged, statistically, as the greatest of them all.
The 36-year-old extended his dominance in the Grand Slam tally and the Big Titles count - considered a key metric in determining the GOAT by tennis statisticians. Djokovic won an Open Era record 24th Grand Slam, the most of any tennis player, in last Sunday's US Open final.
He defeated Daniil Medvedev with a performance of supreme composure to pull two majors clear of Nadal, and now four clear of retired Swiss Federer. Barring an improbable comeback of epic proportions from the Spaniard next season, Djokovic is now nailed on to win the ultimate battle as not just the best of the Big 3, but the best of all.
Djokovic, however, refrains from giving a conclusive answer when he is asked about the subject. But when he talked to the media during the 2023 Davis Cup group stage in Valencia, he reiterated the influence of Nadal and Federer in the sporting world.
Perhaps it's mildly surprising to hear Djokovic admit that he doesn't miss them while he is on the court (why would he after playing each other in brutal and adrenaline-filled contests?), but they are dearly missed, given the void they have left. Nadal is planning his comeback next year, and the word is that he's gearing up for his farewell.
"Personally, I don't know how much I miss them, but at the sports level, I'm sure tennis misses them a lot. We are talking about two players who are tennis legends, two athletes who have left an immense legacy for the sport in general. I don't know how much I miss them, to be honest, at least on the court."
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