Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's final match before the Spaniard retires at the Six Kings Slam was emotional, but the Spaniard has said Roger Federer is his biggest rival.
Djokovic and Federer have undoubtedly posed the greatest challenges to Nadal throughout his outstanding career. The 14-time French Open champion has played some of the best matches in tennis history against them.
How much Nadal means to Djokovic was evident after he defeated him in their last match at the Six Kings Slam. The 24-time Grand Slam champion paid a heartfelt tribute to his old rival, referring to him as an incredible person.
Nadal returned the favor in his comments to Djokovic, thanking the Serbian for everything and saying he would not have become such a great player without their rivalry.
Some feel the incredible intensity of Nadal and Djokovic's battles means their rivalry is the best the sport has ever seen. The most notable example was their five-hour and 53-minute 2012 Australian Open final, the longest Grand Slam final ever.
Federer and Nadal also had several incredible battles, making others think their rivalry was even better. Many consider the 2008 Wimbledon final between the pair to be the most extraordinary match ever played, and they have had other five-set Grand Slam finals.
Djokovic has stated that Nadal is his greatest rival ahead of Federer because the Spaniard impacted him more than any other player by a considerable distance over the years.
However, Nadal does not feel the same way about Djokovic. In an interview with AS, the 22-time Grand Slam champion chose Federer as his biggest rival despite playing Djokovic more times.
"Djokovic is the player I have faced the most, but for me, my biggest rival has been Federer. Because, when I arrived on the circuit, it was Federer who was there and he was the first."
"In the years when I was at the top of my career in every sense, it was Roger and Novak. But in the first years, which are the ones that mark you in a special way, Roger was always there."
Nadal admitted there was a sharper contrast in styles in his matches against Federer but also praised Djokovic for his consistently high level of play and being incredibly challenging to plat against.
"With Roger, I am clear that it is because it was a very sharp contrast in styles and ways of seeing and approaching the sport."
"And with Novak, of course, it has been an incredible challenge. In the end, he is a player who has managed to maintain a very high level of play and improve every year."
Nadal's reasoning for Federer being his greatest rival is understandable. The battles between the pair when the Spaniard had just emerged as a top player undoubtedly helped shape Nadal into the player he became.
That does not diminish the amazing matches between Nadal and Djokovic, whose respect for each other is clear, but Federer and Nadal's rivalry holds a particularly special place in both men's careers.
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