Djokovic Names Nadal Greatest Rival, Omits Federer in Laureus Comments; Showers Praise on Alcaraz
At the 2025 Laureus Sports Awards this week, Novak Djokovic singled out Rafael Nadal as his "biggest rival," a comment notable for the absence of Roger Federer's name in that context. The 24-time Grand Slam champion also spoke glowingly about Carlos Alcaraz.
Referencing the recently retired Nadal, who received an award at the ceremony, Djokovic said, "I remember extraordinary matches against Nadal, the biggest rival of my career." While the Djokovic-Nadal-Federer rivalry is often seen as a three-way affair, Djokovic's specific wording emphasized the Spaniard.
Looking ahead, Djokovic expressed enthusiasm for current competitor Carlos Alcaraz, whom he could face in the Madrid Open semi-finals. "He is a nice person, very good, with great values," Djokovic commented, praising Alcaraz's character, team, and family background. "He's obviously an extraordinary champion... but as a person, I like him."
Djokovic is returning to the Madrid Open for the first time since losing to Alcaraz there in the 2022 semi-finals and hopes for a chance at revenge. He also reaffirmed his ongoing motivation, stating, "I still feel the desire to play, the passion to compete is always there."
