‘Rafael Nadal is still there’ – Novak Djokovic can win GOAT race and ‘won’t miss Roger Federer’ say Wilander, Schett

Eurosport experts Mats Wilander and Barbara Schett have given their views on the intense rivalries shared by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the latter bids for a record-extending 10th title at the 2023 Australian Open.

Nadal still leads the men’s record tally for Grand Slam singles titles with 22 after his Australian Open and French Open crowns last year, but Djokovic is just one behind him and remains the overwhelming favourite to triumph yet again at the first major of the season.

“We are going to miss those rivalries tremendously,” Wilander said on Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage.

“Novak will be the last of the big three to keep playing because of his body. Okay, he’s got a little injury here, but he seems to be able to deal with the injuries that he gets. He looks so fresh and young.

“He is going to beat Federer at skiing, I’m assuming because he grew up skiing! We’re going to miss him [Federer]. Lleyton Hewitt told me that we don’t have to worry about those three going away because it’s all about rivalries.

“We saw Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner last year at the US Open. That to me went, ‘oh my god, it is all about a rivalry!’ The question is, are we going to get the rivalries the way we got them with the ‘Big Three’, as well as Andy Murray?”

Schett added: “Novak said he misses Roger on the tour, but those rivalries got him to where he is now. All three, four of them, actually. They made each other better players.

“He won’t miss Federer now because he has a very good chance to go down in the history books as winning the most Grand Slam titles ever, but Nadal is still there.

“His [Djokovic’s] body is in such good shape; he has niggles here and there, but he doesn’t have any major injuries, looking after his body. He is still so driven. 21 Grand Slam titles are not enough for Djokovic. That’s great to see.”

Asked by Jim Courier if he could remember his first semi-final at a major, having reached his 10th at Melbourne Park, he recalled facing Federer.

“I think it was the US Open back in 2007,” Djokovic said. “It seems quite a long time ago, actually, now. I was fortunate to win that semi-final, but in the final, I lost to Roger.

At that moment, the crowd erupted in applause, and Djokovic joined in with some clapping of his own before deciding to stop that answer and instead pay tribute to his former rival.

“Let us give him a big round of applause, to Roger, guys,” Djokovic said.

“He deserves it! I had some great battles over the years with Roger, that is for sure. Tennis misses him, for sure.

“I have seen him dressing up very sharply for [Paris] Fashion Week the other day!

“I have seen him skiing. I want to challenge him for a little skiing race in a few years’ time. But, yeah, he is enjoying life, for sure, it is nice to see that.

“Obviously for tennis, he has been one of the most important players ever to play the game. So, big regards to his family.”

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