"It’s difficult to choose": Rafael Nadal names toughest opponent out of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic

Spain’s legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal has picked Switzerland’s Roger Federer ahead of Novak Djokovic as his biggest rival. These three players dominated men’s tennis in the singles category for a large part of the two decades.

Federer became the first player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category in the Open era to win more than 15 Grand Slam titles. He also became the first player ever to win 20 or more major titles in his illustrious career. On the other hand, Nadal, who is also known as the ‘King of Clay’ for winning 14 French Open titles, became the first player to win more than 20 major titles in his illustrious career. He retired with 22 major titles to his name.

Djokovic, who is the only active player out of the three, is regarded as the most successful player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category in the Open era, after winning 24 Grand Slam titles. Nadal was earlier asked in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, where he admitted that both Djokovic and Federer were his closest rivals. “I would say Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer,” he said back in February. “It’s difficult to choose.”

Nadal was later asked in an interview by AS which one of the two was his toughest opponent. In response to that, Nadal named Federer as his toughest opponent. “Djokovic is the player I’ve faced the most, but for me, my greatest rival has been Federer,” he said. “When I arrived on the circuit, it was Federer who was there first. During the years when I was at my best in every sense, it was Roger and Novak. But in the early years, which shape you in a special way, Roger was always there. My career is linked to both of them; the three of us have pushed each other to be better. That is why we have been able to have such a long career.”