Roger Federer, twenty-one months into his retirement, has been candid and reflective about his rivalries with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in a new Amazon Prime documentary titled Federer: Twelve Final Days. The 20-time major champion has admitted that he did not initially give Djokovic the respect he deserved, criticizing the Serb’s technical flaws before acknowledging his transformation into an incredible player. Federer also spoke about Djokovic being seen as the outsider by fans of Federer and Nadal, referring to him as the “party crasher” of the two tennis giants.
In the documentary, Federer delves into the emotional struggles he faced in his matches against Djokovic, particularly highlighting the painful losses he experienced, with the 2008 Wimbledon final against Nadal being the most stoking defeat in his memory. Despite their close head-to-head record, Federer admits to having difficulty in figuring out how to beat Djokovic in crucial moments, leading to several painful defeats in major tournaments. Their on-court battles, including Djokovic saving match points against Federer in the U.S. Open semi-finals, are moments that left a lasting impact on the Swiss tennis legend.
Reflecting on his own setbacks and failures, Federer encourages others to accept defeat, let out their emotions, and then move forward with a smile, citing his own experience in dealing with painful slam losses. The retired ATP champion acknowledges the mental challenges Djokovic posed to him on the court, despite their competitive matches and close head-to-head record. As Wimbledon approaches, it is unlikely that any of the Big Three, including Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, will participate in the upcoming tournament, with Nadal withdrawing to focus on preparing for the Paris Olympics.
Federer’s candid reflections on his rivalries with Djokovic and Nadal shed light on the emotional and mental toll that competitive tennis matches took on him, especially against Djokovic, who proved to be a formidable opponent for the Swiss legend. The documentary provides insight into Federer’s journey as he navigated the highs and lows of his career, including his struggles to overcome Djokovic in critical moments on the court. Despite their fierce on-court battles, Federer’s respect for Djokovic’s talent and accomplishments is evident, showcasing the mutual admiration and rivalry between two of tennis’s greatest champions.
