Dave Rolfe

Rafa Nadal was asked why his rivalry with Federer received more attention than his rivalry with Novak Djokovic “Why is there so much talk about Federer-Nadal & so little about Djokovic-Nadal or Djokovic-Federer, even though they are also great matches, & Djokovic is the player with the most Grand Slams in history?” Rafa: “There are several factors. Some I won’t tell you because it’s difficult for me, it’s not my place to comment on them. But in terms of tennis, it’s clear. It’s a combination of very radical styles. Roger was perfection in terms of aesthetics, elegance, & technique. (I have very good technique, but technique is not the same as aesthetics. They are two different things. He had incredible technique, doing things beautifully with impressive elegance). When I arrived, he was the number one in the world, & a rival with long hair & an exuberant physique emerges. Elegance against a warrior. There was a unique combination of personalities & styles, & that, combined with playing many matches on the most important stages, turned our rivalry into something that transcended more than any other match.” (via El Pais)