"We're not friends": From rivals to friends...just not for a little while admits Novak Djokovic on Federer and Nadal
Tennis News
While Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have seemingly bonded post career, the same cannot be said for Novak Djokovic with the trio of rivals yet. He even reiterated that they are still not friends with Jon Wertheim on 60 Minutes.
But he is open to a potential friendship post-career, just not right now when he is still attempting to pursue greatness.
Djokovic said that it is done for a reason on his end, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion saying that his secrets could be used against him for instance if they were close. But also that he is bound to be gravitated towards them eventually due to all they've been through.
"I would like to. I would really like to. Personally, I would like to. I mean, I know that obviously (laughs) we didn’t get along so well throughout our careers in, like, off court. And we are not friends because, you know, we’re rivals and it’s difficult as competitors to be very close and kind of share and give insights to you know, to your life or to how you feel because, you know, it could be used against you," said Djokovic.
"But we have shared the stage for so many years. And I think the greatest respect is always there, at least from my side, towards them. So yeah, I hope that one day, when the curtains are slightly more closed, that we are, yeah, able to sit down and, and reflect. It would be, it would be amazing."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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