Rafael Nadal is preparing to bring the curtain down on a remarkable tennis career as he prepares to play his penultimate tournament in Saudi Arabia this week

Rafael Nadal has opened up about his relationship with Novak Djokovic (Image: (Image: DAZN ))

As he gears up for retirement, Rafael Nadal has shed light on his relationship with Novak Djokovic. The Spanish tennis star is set to play in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia this week, which could see him face off against his long-time rival, before his farewell at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

Djokovic had previously stated that it was “impossible” to be friends with Nadal, but the 38-year-old sees their off-court relationship differently. Nadal, Djokovic, and Roger Federer have been the dominant forces in tennis for nearly two decades.

However, with Federer already retired and Nadal soon to follow, Djokovic will be the last of the trio still playing. Despite coming onto the scene later than his rivals and spending years playing catch-up, Djokovic has always been somewhat of an outsider in the Big Three.

While Nadal and Federer developed a friendship away from the court, the current world No. 4 didn’t seem as close to his competitors. But Nadal insists that he shares a strong bond with Djokovic – even if the Serbian player doesn’t feel the same way.

Djokovic (left) previously said it was ‘impossible’ to be friends with a rival like Nadal (Image: (Image: Getty))

“Of course with Roger it has been special but with Novak, too, I have a good relationship,” Nadal told DAZN. The 22-time Grand Slam champion believes that sharing similar values with his rivals has helped maintain these relationships.

“It’s the way that you approach the sport,” he explained. “I think that’s possible because at the end, we understand that it’s only a game. In life, we have many more important things outside of tennis.

“At the end of the day, if you have a good relationship with the colleagues, with the people who are next to you or with the people in general, without a doubt, in my experience, you will be happier. So at the end, tennis is only a game, relationships go beyond that.”

Djokovic has expressed a different view on the pair’s dynamic, though. “Even with him, friendship is impossible. I have always respected and greatly admired him,” he previously told Corriere Della Sera.

While grateful for their storied rivarly, the Serb added: “We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies.”

Djokovic has seemingly shown a change of heart as he is set to attend the Davis Cup Finals to be there for Nadal’s farewell.

The two tennis greats may face off one last time in Saudi Arabia this weekend, although it won’t be an official match. Nadal, however, isn’t too concerned about facing Djokovic again.

“We played plenty of times, we don’t need to play again. But have been always a big challenge, a great rival. He’s a player that has been always pushing me at the highest level, going through the limits,” he said with a smile.