Novak Djokovic showed his class as he brought Andy Murray into the conversation when asked about the Big Three. With Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal pulling out of Indian Wells, the world No. 1 explained just how much their rivalries impacted his career. And he made sure to give Murray the credit he deserved for the years he spent battling the three men for the biggest titles.
Djokovic is carrying the Big Three legacy following the decline of his rivals. Federer retired in 2022 while Nadal has already admitted that this could be his final year on the tour. The Spaniard spent 12 months on the sidelines before making his return in Brisbane in January.
But he has not played a match since, leaving Djokovic to fly the flag for arguably the most dominant group of players the sport has ever seen. Arriving in Indian Wells this week, world No. 1 Djokovic was asked what it was like to be left without Federer and Nadal. And he showed his respect for Murray by including the three-time Major winner in his answer.
“[They’ve been a] very important part of my career. I mean these two guys along with Andy Murray have been an inseparable part of my development as a player,” Djokovic said. “And everything that I have achieved, I think a lot of it has to do with the rivalries that I had with these guys.”
While Federer and Nadal often came between Djokovic and some of the biggest titles on the tour, the Serb also confessed that it was “sad” to see their era draw to a close. He continued: “We all know that those moments will come for all of us but when they actually come and when you actually understand that that’s it, that Roger finished his career, Rafa and I probably not going to play much more, it’s a kind of one era comes to an end and it’s sad.”
