Follow usNovak Djokovic, the last active player from tennis’ legendary “Big Four,” shared his thoughts on the retirements of his iconic rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafa Nadal. While Djokovic has no immediate plans to retire, he admitted that the departure of his peers has been emotionally overwhelming.
The “Big Four”—Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, and Murray—dominated tennis for over two decades, winning a combined 69 Grand Slam titles and delivering some of the sport’s most memorable moments. Nadal, who won a record 14 French Open titles, announced that he would retire after the upcoming Davis Cup, following Murray’s retirement after the Paris Olympics and Federer’s in 2022.
“A big part of me left with them” 🥹
Novak Djokovic on Nadal’s retirement announcement @DjokerNole #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/Y5UtOThfg8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 11, 2024
After defeating Czech Jakub Mensik in the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals, Djokovic reflected on Nadal’s announcement: “He has been my greatest rival. The rivalry I had with him has impacted me the most in my career by far.”
Djokovic acknowledged the inevitable shift in tennis with the retirement of his competitors but still found it surprising: “We knew that that moment is coming sooner than later, but it’s still a shock, you know. Roger a few years ago, Andy as well this year… It’s a bit overwhelming. I still enjoy competing, but part of me left with them, a big part of me.”
Despite the emotional toll of seeing his long-standing rivals step away from the game, Djokovic remains committed to continuing his own career.
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