Nadal says rivalry with Djokovic and Federer key to the longevity

| by Sebastian Dahlman

Rafael Nadal believes the rivalry he has with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer is key to his longevity on the Tour.

The long careers of the Big Three players have drastically altered what many thought players could do in tennis at an older age. Nadal believes that the rivalry is essential to that as all of them have maintained a respectable level of play at ages when tennis players weren't thought to be able to play decades ago.

“What may happen in the future I don't know, I don't know the consequences that may happen, time will tell," explained Nadal during his South American exhibition tour.

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"There are several factors why we are playing longer at an advanced age. One is medicine and the professionalisation of the entire sport which means that people have a more extensive team, and there is more knowledge of the things that help to lengthen careers," added Nadal.

On the longevity of all three, Nadal said:

"And there is another thing: I think Roger, Novak and I have been pushing each other, and somehow it’s never been enough, we’ve always had to make another effort."

He concluded with: "The competition [between us] has taken us to extreme mental and tennis levels, and this is one of the main reasons why we have continued for so long."

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