Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic reveal their most memorable matches in opposition to Roger Federer

As Roger Federer gears as much as say his last goodbye to tennis on the Laver Cup, he’ll accomplish that surrounded by his best rivals. The Swiss is joined by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray – the fabled ‘Big Four’ from the golden period of males’s tennis, with Team Europe this week. At the pre-event workforce press convention in London, his rivals spoke about their most memorable encounters.

Nadal talked about the Wimbledon 2008 last, the final in a trilogy of summit clashes the pair performed at SW19, that was marred by rain and noticed Nadal’s two-set lead slip in two tiebreaks earlier than going into extra-time. The Spaniard gained the ultimate set 9-7 in close to darkness on Centre Court. But for him, the standout match got here in 2017, when the duo, coming back from a protracted harm lay-off the yr earlier than, got here again to fulfill within the last of the Australian Open, which Nadal misplaced in 5 units regardless of being a break up within the decider.

The 36-year-old recalled chatting with Federer a couple of months earlier than that, not sure of whether or not they’ll ever return to that stage.

“I think honestly the 2017 final in Australia was a very special one, because of the significance,” he stated. “Few months before we were together, injured, talking about how the things are going to be, if we are going to be able to be back on the tour at this level, and few months later we are playing the final in Australia, five-set match.”

#Fedal pic.twitter.com/DiTxIcXf7u

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 22, 2022

Djokovic, who has had the higher of Federer on extra events than some other participant, additionally had two stand out matches. “I’ll pick my first Grand Slam final, US Open 2007,” he stated. “I lost that match. That was the first Grand Slam final obviously, was a remarkable experience for me at the time. Kind of the first match that allowed me to believe that I belonged to that level.”

Federer quipped again, thanking the Serb for being very type for mentioning a match he misplaced. “I haven’t finished,” the Serb replied.

“I’m ready to be on your side.”@rogerfederer greets teammates @DjokerNole and @andy_murray throughout their #LaverCup apply on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/YUnYTJRLpz

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 21, 2022

Djokovic went on to speak in regards to the Wimbledon 2019 last, which noticed Federer narrowly miss out on a then record-breaking twenty first Major. The Swiss, the higher participant on the day, had two match factors on his serve within the fifth set earlier than Djokovic produced among the greatest returns at maximum-capacity clutch play to interrupt again and ultimately win the match in Wimbledon’s first-ever deciding set tiebreaker.

Federer was in a position to make mild of probably the most heartbreaking moments of his profession, three years on. “What happened (at Wimbledon 2019)?” he requested with a wry snicker. “I’ve blocked it out.”

The Laver Cup kicks off on Friday, and Federer, whose post-operative knees will solely maintain up for one doubles match, will accomplish that alongside Nadal, whom he described as his best rival.