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What Rafael Nadal said when asked about Novak Djokovic’s existence

Originally posted on HITC | By Cameron Greenlees | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 3:02 PM ET

The Spaniard delivered a brutally honest response when questioned about his great rival during a dominant spell for the Serbian.

In the mid-2000s, men’s tennis appeared to be settling into a familiar pattern. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were clearly a level above the rest, trading the world number one ranking and dividing the biggest titles between them.

From the 2005 French Open through to the 2007 US Open, every Grand Slam trophy was lifted by either Nadal or Federer, with Paris belonging to the Spaniard and Melbourne, Wimbledon and New York largely ruled by the Swiss. That apparent two-man era was interrupted in early 2008, when Novak Djokovic captured his first major title at the Australian Open and reshaped the sport’s hierarchy.

Nadal’s blunt response to a Djokovic question in 2014

Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Djokovic’s emergence transformed what had looked like a duel into the era of the ‘Big Three’. While opinions differed on whether that made men’s tennis stronger, the rivalry between Nadal and Djokovic quickly became the most frequent and intense of the lot.

By 2014, the balance had shifted firmly in Djokovic’s favour. Between late 2013 and 2016, the Serbian won 11 of 12 meetings against Nadal, including the final of the Miami Open, where Djokovic claimed a straight-sets victory.

Speaking to the media after that loss, Nadal was asked whether he was glad that Djokovic existed, given his well-known appreciation for tough challenges. His reply was instant and deadpan: “No. I like challenges, but I am not stupid.”

How Nadal and Djokovic stacked up against Federer

By the time their rivalry concluded at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nadal and Djokovic had faced each other 60 times at tour level, with Djokovic edging the head-to-head 31–29.

Both men also finished their careers with winning records against Federer. Nadal defeated the Swiss 24 times, while Djokovic recorded 27 victories, underlining just how dominant the Big Three were against even one another.

In the end, Djokovic had the final word against both of his great rivals, winning his last matches against Federer in 2020 and Nadal in 2024 — closing the chapter on the most competitive era men’s tennis has ever known.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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