Indian Wells 2024: Novak Djokovic Feels Adrift Post Roger Federer’s Retirement as He Makes ‘Strange’ Confession

via Imago

There is no denying that the ‘Big 3’ consisting of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have shared one of the greatest rivalries in the sporting realm. However, with the Swiss Maestro’s retirement and the Spaniard not playing much, the Serbian tennis player is now the only one gracing the men’s tour. Emphasizing the same, the ‘Djoker’ recently opened up about how he feels “a part of him” has also retired.

The 24-time singles Grand Slam champion said that his competitive journey has been going with ‘an upward spiral,’ largely thanks to Federer and Nadal. Meanwhile, Djokovic also asserted that he has failed to find a new adversary as Roger and Rafa remain his ‘two biggest rivals’ on the court.

In his pre-tournament press conference at the Indian Wells Open, the Serbian player confessed about a ‘strange feeling’ that John McEnroe once also had about his fierce rival Bjorn Borg. Djokovic said, “It’s beautiful for our sport that we had amazing rivalries that have really yeah marked an incredible two decades, and uh, I remember John McEnroe was saying in one of the documentaries that I have seen recently that when Bjorn Borg retired, he felt like a part of him also retired.”

He added, “You know, even though he kept going but and that’s, uh, I must say, a similar feeling that I have with Roger, you know retiring and Rafa not playing much at all it’s a strange feeling.”I figured out what to do and kind of matured mentally, emotionally, and of course physically as a player more experienced and then since that moment my career has been going thankfully with upward spiral, which is amazing but it’s all due to them and the rivalries I had with them.”

As he was singing the praises of their rivalry, the current one-number player opened up about how he has failed to find a new adversary on the tour.

“I try to find a new rival”- Novak Djokovic gets real about his ‘biggest’ rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

The 36-year-old player has lately faced some fierce competition from the two young ATP sensations, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. However, despite some locking horns with these tennis youngsters, the ‘Djoker’ still regards Federer and Nadal as his ‘two biggest rivals.’

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In the same press conference, the Serb said, “You know, I mean, I try to find a new rival, but, um, I had some great matches with Alcaraz and Sinner lately, but you know, they still remain the two biggest rivals I have ever had.” What do you think of the Serbian tennis star’s honest confession about Federer and Nadal’s absence on the tour? Let us know in the comment section.