"We have to define what close friends means" - Djokovic opens up on relationship with Nadal

"We have to define what close friends means" - Djokovic opens up on relationship with Nadal

by Balasz Virag

Last updated

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are currently competing for the most Grand Slam titles and while the Spaniard leads by one, his Serbian opponent may soon equal his biggest rival.

Alongside Roger Federer as another member of the Big Three, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the biggest rivals in the history of tennis. Fans often wonder what's their relationship off-court like and in a recently published interview with Graham Bensinger that took place already in 2020, the 21-time Grand Slam champion spoke about it.

“Well, look, we have to define what close friends means. We were never really as close as I would be close with my childhood friends or he would with his. We push each other, we drive each other to be the best we could possibly be with the tennis racquet on the court,” Djokovic said.

“It's just it's really hard [to be close friends] because [we are each other’s] main rivals. [We] both [are] fighting for something that only one can get.”

“But we always had respect for each other because, I think, we are all aware of how many kids look at us, look what we do, what we say, how we behave towards each other and towards the sport, towards other people. The example that we give is something that is very important to all of us,” said Novak Djokovic.

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