While in Rome, where he will play Cameron Norrie in the round of 16 on Tuesday, Novak Djokovic made a number of claims about his rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Serb also spoke openly about why he had never been friends with a Swiss and an Iberian.

Djokovic says that there can be no friendship between great rivals

As quoted by repubblica.it, Nole explained why he was never friends with Federer and Nadal throughout his career.

The 35-year-old Serb (he will turn 36 on May 22) says, among other things, that there can be no friendship between great rivals. The same goes for his relationship with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The ATP leader says that he has always respected his great rivals and that he would not be the athlete he is today if it were not for Roger and Rafa.

“Federer and I have never been friends. There can be no friendship between rivals, but we have never been enemies either.

I always respected him (not Roger), he was one of the greatest of all time, but I was never close to him.

Nadal is only a year older than me, we are both twins, at first we had dinner together twice, but even with him friendship is impossible.

Thanks to Nadal and Federer, I grew up and became who I am today. This will unite us forever, I feel great gratitude to them.

Nadal is a part of my life, over the past 15 years I have seen him more often than my mother,” says Novak Djokovic.