Novak Djokovic Reveals the ‘Private’ Questions he Would Ask Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic has revealed the questions he would ask Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when they meet in the future. The former World No.1 competed alongside Federer and Nadal during the peak of their careers, and the trio went down in tennis history as one of the best players that have ever graced the court.

However, Federer and Nadal have retired from professional tennis, but Djokovic is still competing at 38. The trio were known as the Big 3 in the men’s circuit, as they dominated the tour, winning 66 Grand Slams in total, with Djokovic claiming 24, Nadal 22, and Federer 20.

Meanwhile, Djokovic is currently chasing a record 25th career Grand Slam at the US Open. He has dropped just two sets in his four matches in New York. He opened his campaign with a straight-sets win over American star Learner Tien at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. He then came from a set down to beat Zachary Svadja.

He continued with the momentum in the third set against Cameron Norrie, despite struggling with a lower back injury, he kept his focus and claimed the win. On Sunday (August 31), he sealed his place in his 64th Grand Slam quarter-finals after beating German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Nonetheless, Djokovic met Federer recently at the Wimbledon Championship, but he was with the Swiss and Nadal at the French Open. During his press conference at the US Open, he was asked if he had questions for Federer and Nadal when he meets them any time in the future. The World No.7 revealed that he will ask them how they approached matches against him:

I would ask them many questions, probably starting by asking how they approached their matches against me, what they felt they needed to do to beat me. In what situations were they bothered? How did they train, how did they prepare mentally, a mixture of all those things. I would love to know how their minds worked in those situations, it would be incredible. We’ll see if it ever happens.

Djokovic met Federer 50 times on tour, leading their head-to-head record 27-23. He won their last meeting at the 2020 Australian Open semi-finals, where Djokovic claimed a straight-sets victory. The Serbian also met Nadal 60 and leads their head-to-head record 31-29, but Nadal won three of their last five meetings on tour.

Novak Djokovic set to face Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals of the US Open

Novak Djokovic will face Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals of the US Open. It will be the eleventh time that the duo will face each other on tour and Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 10-0. In fact, he has only dropped three sets against the American star and the last he dropped a set was at the 2024 Australian Open quarter-finals.