Tennis was forever changed by the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—the legendary “Big Three”. Their rivalries produced some of the sport’s greatest matches, defining a generation and raising the bar to unprecedented levels.

Federer arrived first, dazzling fans with his elegance, creativity, and dominance on grass and hard courts. Nadal followed, a fierce competitor who built his reputation on clay but also proved capable across all surfaces. Then came Djokovic, a relentless athlete whose physicality and mental strength helped him surpass both in total Grand Slam titles.

Speaking with The Athletic, Nadal reflected on what it was like to face Federer and Djokovic on hard courts, a surface that played more naturally to his two rivals. “I needed my body and my physical

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