This isn’t going to help the murmurings.
Rafael Nadal has caused a stir while appearing to share what he really thinks about Novak Djokovic.
The Serbian world No. 1 has continued to be the dominant force in men’s tennis having won three grand slam titles in 2023 — jumping past Nadal to set a new benchmark with an absurd 24 career grand slam triumphs.
Nadal has repeatedly praised and shared his admiration for Djokovic’s achievements — but it is constantly pointed out that his public comments rarely match the romantic language the Spanish champion uses to discuss his thoughts about Roger Federer.
The pair famously openly wept on court together when Federer finished his career at the Laver Cup.
While Federer and Nadal overcame some early feistiness towards each other to become famous friends, the Serbian has been on the outside looking in.
Djokovic made a sad admission last month when he said “we are not friends” — referring to his relationship to the other members of the so-called Big Three.
Now Nadal has made comments to stir up the hornets nest once again.
When asked about Federer in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Nadal responded in Spanish: “Since I have memory, he is the player who has impressed me the most. The one who has entertained me the most. The one who has moved me the most.
“Watching Federer play has moved me more than Djokovic, and in the end, tennis is about emotion. It’s the emotion that draws you to it.”
Speaking from his recent training camp at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Kuwait, Nadal was also asked the million-dollar question about why his rivalry with Federer is much more celebrated than his battles with Djokovic.
“There are several factors,” he said.
“Some I won’t tell you because it’s difficult for me. It’s not my place to comment on them. But in terms of tennis, it’s clear.
“It’s a combination of very radical styles. Federer was perfection in terms of aesthetics, elegance, and technique. I have very good technique, but technique is not the same as aesthetics. They are two different things.
He had incredible technique, doing things beautifully with impressive elegance. When I arrived, he was the number one in the world, and a rival with long hair and an exuberant physique emerges. Elegance against a warrior. There was a unique combination of personalities and styles, and that, combined with playing many matches on the most important stages, turned our rivalry into something that transcended more than any other match.
“We have all reinvented ourselves, that’s why there has been this intense rivalry.
“We always surprised each other. Djokovic as well, but with a difference compared to the two of us.
“He hasn’t needed to evolve it as much as we have. He hasn’t suffered as many injuries. The only thing that has demanded him to improve his game has been his rivals, not physical issues. That’s a difference.”
Nadal will return to play at the Brisbane International on Tuesday in what will be his first ATP Tour singles match in 12 months.
It was announced on Sunday Nadal will face Dominic Thiem in the opening round of the tournament.
Thiem, a former world number three who was beaten by Nadal in the 2018 and 2019 French Open finals, battled through two tough qualifying rounds to make the main draw.
Nadal has not ruled out the possibility of returning to play the 2025 Australian Open, but conceded there was “a high percentage” that he was on his last trip as a player to Australia.
The 37-year-old said he did not know for sure what the future held.
“The problem about saying that’s going to be my last season is I can’t predict what’s going on 100 per cent in the future,” he said.
“That’s why I say ‘probably’. It’s obvious it’s a high percentage that it’s going to be my last time playing here in Australia.
“But if I am here next year, don’t tell me, ‘You said it was going to be your last season’, because I didn’t say it.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion said that the last year, with surgery for a hip injury, had been tough and he contemplated quitting at one point during his recovery.
Nadal’s first match back ended in defeat when he and doubles partner Marc Lopez went down to Australian pair Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell on Sunday.