ATP > Carlos Moya on the rivalry between Nadal and Djokovic: “Since 2005, Rafa started to keep an eye on Novak. The Big 2 with Rafa and Roger Federer was on the verge of becoming the Big 3”

After returning to the immense legacy left by Rafael Nadal and his rivalry against Roger Federer, Carlos Moya, the man's last coach at the 14 Roland‐Garros, also spoke of the emergence of a certain Novak Djokovic during a special interview with the ATP. An emergence which gave birth to the famous Big 3.

“Between 2005 and 2009, the duels between Nadal and Federer elevated Tennis to the status of a sport in its own right. Every match was a global television event. Television and newspaper attention skyrocketed, as did ticket sales: everyone wanted to witness their greatness. But since 2005, Nadal also began to keep an eye on Novak Djokovic, a Serbian a year younger who won his first slam in 2008. The “Big 2” with Nadal and Federer was about to become the “Big 3”. During the first half of 2011, Djokovic defeated world number one Nadal in four consecutive Masters 1000 finals. Beating the world's best player on clay is an incredible feat. He then beat the Spaniard in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open. Djokovic became world number 1 for the first time and Rafa discovered a formidable new rival in the battle for tennis supremacy. »

Published on Tuesday December 3, 2024 at 6:08 p.m.