The Big Three—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—all have or had different styles. Interestingly, former ATP player Steve Johnson found Djokovic easier to play than the other two greats.
Each of the three tennis legends brought something unique to their respective rivalries. None of the three men had the same style of play, which is part of what made their matches against each other so special.
Federer was known for his grace on the court. His footwork, one-handed backhand, touch, and shot-making made the game look effortless. Many did not realize how hard Federer worked off the court because of how easy he made the sport look.
Nadal brought an unmatched presence and energy to every match he played. His left-handed topspin forehand remains unique, and the Spaniard's footwork matched the rest of his explosive game. He was the opposite of Federer in many ways.
Djokovic's game is the most complete tennis has ever seen. He possesses no significant weaknesses, has the best return in the sport's history, and stifles opponents with his incredible movement and baseline consistency.
All three men have achieved so much, but Djokovic is statistically the most successful. He recently added an Olympic gold to his achievements, leading Matteo Berrettini to refer to the 37-year-old as a cyborg.
The Serbian could achieve even more if he plays for another three or four years, as Patrick Mouratoglou thinks he can. However, Djokovic winning more major titles than Nadal and Federer does not mean all players found him the most difficult to play.
In an episode of his 'Nothing Major' podcast with John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Jack Sock, Johnson outlined why Djokovic's style was easier to face than Nadal or Federer's.
"Roger, Rafa, Novak, this is obviously a crazy statement but, like Novak, he's the easiest to play of the three because he lets you play tennis."
"Roger comes forward and just suffocates you, Rafa just bullies you around the court and Novak, makes you miss and he makes your targets become so incredibly small, it's damn near impossible."
Johnson's words summarize why Djokovic's rise has been so fascinating compared to Nadal and Federer. The 10-time Australian Open champion does not intimidate some opponents in the same way as the other two due to his playing style.
Yet, Djokovic's results speak for themselves. Despite feeling more settled on the court against the Serbian, players like Johnson were not more likely to beat him. Djokovic simply ground down those opponents with his relentlessly solid tennis.
The way Djokovic played the sport partially explains why he did not receive the same love at most tournaments as Federer and Nadal when they were competing for significant trophies at the same time. He is terrific to watch, but many did not find his style as attractive as his rivals'.
Djokovic's brand of tennis was a perfect foil to Federer and Nadal in their matches, which is why he had so many epic contests against both. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will also feel he's had the last laugh over fans who did not give him the same respect as Federer or Nadal.
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