Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal: Curtain begins to close on men's tennis 'Big Three'

Men’s tennis remains a spectacle for sports lovers all over the world. The pedigree of men’s tennis has been enhanced even further in the last two decades with the dominance of the ‘Big Three’. The original ‘Big Three’ consisted of Switzerland’s Roger Federer, Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

While Federer retired from the sport in September 2022 after consistent fitness struggles, Nadal and Djokovic are still playing at the highest level. Spain’s legendary tennis star has already announced that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season. He, just like Federer, has struggled with fitness concerns recently, and it was because of this that he missed nearly all of the 2023 season.

The 37-year-old, regarded as one of the best players ever to have played the game, is taking part in the Paris Olympics, which might be the last time he will take part in a big event. Interestingly, despite consistent fitness struggles, Nadal has decided to participate in both the doubles and singles categories. In the singles event, he faced Djokovic in the second round, which might have been the last meeting between two players from the ‘Big Three’ in professional tennis.

If that meeting occurs, the ‘Big Three’ rivalries will end interestingly. Federer and Nadal have faced each other 40 times, Federer and Djokovic have faced each other 50 times, and if Nadal and Djokovic face each other in the second round at the Olympics, it will be their 60th meeting.

In the 40 meetings between Federer and Nadal, the Spaniard had an advantage with 24 wins and 16 defeats. In the 50 meetings between Federer and Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star had an advantage with 27 wins and 23 defeats. In the 59 meetings between Nadal and Djokovic, the Belgrade-born star had a slight edge with 30 wins and 29 defeats.