Denis Shapovalov, Dominic Thiem, and Thanasi Kokkinakis recently reflected on how soul-destroying playing Roger Federer could be and compared it to competing against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Shapovalov and Kokkinakis ended 2024 strongly. The Canadian finished a challenging season by winning the Serbia Open in Belgrade despite needing to come through two qualifying matches to reach the main draw.
Victories against Marton Fucsovics, Nuno Borges, Christopher O'Connell, Jiri Lehecka, and Hamad Medjedovic in the main draw sealed the title. During the ceremony, he received the trophy from home hero Novak Djokovic.
Kokkinaksis played at a high level during the Davis Cup Finals. The Australian won an epic battle against Ben Shelton, who could not get over the line despite holding four match points. Shelton also lost in the doubles afterward.
After another outstanding three-set match, Kokkinakis narrowly lost to Matteo Berrettini in the semifinal against Italy. Although disappointing, the 28-year-old could have a great 2025 if he plays near that level consistently.
2020 US Open champion Thiem officially retired this season at the Vienna Open. Unfortunately, he could no longer play at his previous level because of a persistent wrist injury.
Shapovalov Thiem, and Kokkinakis are very good players, but neither of them can produce tennis as good as Federer's in his prime. He played with an ease and elegance that was not seen before or after his emergence.
Federer's fluidity contrasted with Nadal's energy and intensity and Djokovic's consistency and mental strength. All three possessing different styles is part of why the era in which they dominated tennis was so special.
Djokovic is the only player from that era still competing. Federer retired at the 2022 Laver Cup, while Nadal's career ended at last week's Davis Cup Finals after Team Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands.
Shapovalov, Thiem, and Kokkinakis reflected on how challenging it was to play Federer and how he compared to his rivals in a video for the Ultimate Tennis Showdown. The Canadian said the Swiss maestro made him feel like a junior on the court.
"But Federer can literally make you feel like a junior. Because I played him in Miami semifinals. Dude, I beat good players, I beat Rublev, I beat Tiafoe on the way there. I beat some other guys and I felt like a junior on the court. It was insane."
"He is just messing around. He is like slicing one point, hitting the next. But to me, they’re so different. I felt like Rafa was so predictable. You knew exactly what he’s going to do, but he’s just so good at it that you can’t do anything."
Kokkinakis feels Federer made players feel ridiculous on the court in a way Nadal and Djokovic could not, and it did not always feel like the eight-time Wimbledon champion was trying.
"No one can make you feel more ridiculous than him. Like, I’ve never seen him sweat dude. His hair just stays like that. He doesn’t sweat bro. These are the biggest calves ever. If he shaved his legs, it would’ve been game over for everyone."
"And also he’s not even trying. He’s just taking the piss. At least when Rafa plays, he’s grunting and you’re feeling like you’re getting pushed around. With Nole, he’s like sliding and stuff. Federer just looks like he’s taking the piss."
Thiem, who actually had a very good record against Federer, recounted how the former world No. 1 could make tactics seem useless by suddenly changing his approach on the court.
"But Roger, you feel like okay, I’m going to play full heavy spin on his backhand. I think that’s good and then first point, you play a really good one to his backhand and he steps in and he goes down the line."
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