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Rafael Nadal highlights a difference between himself, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic

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Rafael Nadal has claimed that Novak Djokovic has not needed to evolve his game as much as him or Roger Federer because he has not suffered as many injuries.

The Spaniard believes his Serbian contemporary has developed his game due to the demands of his rivals rather than his physical issues and that this is “a difference.”

Rafael Nadal withdraws before Australian Open - NBC Sports

Nadal has withdrawn from the 2024 Australian Open, which will begin in Melbourne on Sunday January 14, due to a hip muscle injury that surfaced during his comeback at last week’s Brisbane International.

The 37-year-old was beaten by world No 55 Jordan Thompson at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane on Friday in a three-set quarter-final marathon lasting three hours and 24 minutes.

“Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news,” Nadal explained.

“Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in five sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.

 

 

Rafael Nadal earns 'important' Brisbane win over Kubler as return continues | Tennis | The Guardian

In an interview with El Pais, Nadal discussed how the legendary trio have all reinvented themselves as players throughout their careers.

“We have all reinvented ourselves, that’s why there has been this intense rivalry: we always surprised each other,” the Mallorcan said.

“Djokovic as well, but with a difference compared to the two of us: he has evolved his game—champions always do—but he hasn’t needed to evolve it as much as we have.

“He hasn’t suffered as many injuries. The only thing that has demanded him to improve his game has been his rivals, not physical issues. That’s a difference.

“Federer doesn’t get injured much either, but he had a rival, which was me, who punished his only weakness. And I could do that because I was left-handed. If I had been right-handed, I couldn’t have punished it.”

Australian Open CEO 'certain' Rafael Nadal will be at tournament

Nadal also suggested his matches against Djokovic were less tactical than his clashes with Federer, which he compared to “chess.”

“He (Djokovic) has greatly enhanced his strengths but has not radically adapted his game. I had a very marked tactic to play against Federer; he knew what I would seek, and I knew he would try to defend himself. It was a chess game. And when you made a mistake, you knew it,” he added.

“With Djokovic, there isn’t that level of strategy in the matches. You have to play at a very high level for a long time to beat him; it’s different.”

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GOLF

How much does Tiger Woods Nike earns compared to Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Roger Federer

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Tiger Woods has earned hundreds of millions of dollars from his deal with Nike over the course of 27 years but announced on Monday that the partnership will come to an end

Tiger Woods announced on Monday that he will be ending his multi-million dollar contract with Nike.

Tiger Woods announced his partnership with Nike will come to an end
Tiger Woods announced his partnership with Nike will come to an end.

The golf legend first signed a contract with the world-famous sports manufacturer in 1996 when he was still an amateur. Woods has gone on to win 15 major championships, all of which have seen him wear the Nike logo.

However, Woods and Nike both announced in statements that their respective partnerships would be coming to an end after 27 years. In the time that the agreement has been in place, Woods has earned hundreds of millions of dollars from Nike.

“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods wrote in his statement on Monday. “The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever.”

Tiger Woods Ends Nike Deal, Hints At New Apparel Partner – The Hollywood Reporter

“[Former Nike CEO] Phil Knight’s passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together and I want to personally thank him, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way.”

“People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter. See you in LA! Tiger.”

Tiger Woods
Joe Pompliano of Huddle Up reported that Woods’ earnings in the past 27 years from Nike are between $500 million and $660 million. In that time, Woods has signed four separate deals with Nike to remain one of the brand’s star sponsors for nearly three decades.

In 1996, Woods reportedly signed a five-year deal worth $40 million – that increased to $100 million over another five years in 2001. In 2006, Woods then agreed an eight-year extension that was worth between $160 million and £320 million. The most recent deal Woods signed was in 2013 worth $200 million over 10 years.

But how does that money compare to other sports icons who wear the brand?

LeBron James

Remembering LeBron James' N.J. debut, almost 20 years to the day before he became NBA's scoring king - nj.com
In the NBA, LeBron James is currently one of the main stars of the sport that wears Nike.

James became the first active NBA player to be worth a billion dollars back in 2022. In terms of Nike earnings, Forbes reported in 2019 that the Los Angeles Lakers star earns $32 million per season with the brand.

Michael Jordan

Happy Birthday Michael Jordan! His best moments in NBA history | Marca
Before James, Michael Jordan wore the Nike brand during his career in the 1980s and 1990s. Jordan also has the ‘Air Jordan’ brand within Nike that sees him earn millions of dollars every year.

Jordan first signed a deal with Nike in 1984 after he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. That deal, which has been running for nearly 40 years, has reportedly seen Jordan receive $1.8 billion in total from Nike.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer Has Always Been the Best-Dressed Man at Wimbledon | GQ
In tennis, Roger Federer was one of the biggest stars of the sport to be sponsored by Nike during his career which saw him win 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

In 2018, Federer signed a 10-year $300 million deal with Uniqlo. Before that, Federer had spent more than two decades with Nike, with Pompliano also claiming that deal saw the tennis star earn $10 million per year – that would equate to around $200 million in total earnings from the brand.

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TENNIS

Rio Ferdinand ranks Novak Djokovic among the all-time sporting greats – and admits he still prefers Roger Federer

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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Novak Djokovic has earned the right to be recognised as one of the greatest athletes of all-time, but he admits he got more joy watching Roger Federer in action.

TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand talks to Tennis365

Djokovic will aim to win a 25th Grand Slam title and an 11th at the Australian Open when the Melbourne tournament gets underway on Sunday, with his status as the ultimate champion in tennis assured after he moved clear of of his rivals in the race to finish his career with the most major titles.

The longevity of his dominance at the top of men’s tennis has led many observers to suggest Djokovic may be remembered as one of the greatest athletes in sporting history, with Ferdinand suggesting the dedication he has shown has put him in that elite list.

“I think he’s got to be up there with the best of all-time in sport,” TNT Sports football pundit Ferdinand to Tennis365, speaking ahead of Eurosport and discovery+’s live coverage of the Australian Open.

“Physically, he has to be the best. You see reports about the detail he goes into with his nutrition and his diets and he has to be right up there with the best athletes ever.

Novak Djokovic stuns press conference by answering in Chinese

“These guys play for five hours. We played for 90 minutes and we were dead! It’s hard. I’ve tried tennis and it’s hard man!

“You look at some great boxers and other athletes down the years and it’s hard to say who is the best of all-time, but he is certainly in my top five.

“When you see how meticulous he is, there have not been too many better.

“We’ve had some great athletes down the years, but I’d certainly put Djokovic in the top five of all-time, for sure.”

Novak Djokovic - Player Profile - Tennis - Eurosport

Djokovic’s success in remaining the leading player in men’s tennis at the age of 36 has ensured he has eclipsed Federer and Rafael Nadal in the race to claim the most significant records in the history of the men’s game.

With Nadal’s ongoing injury issues and Federer long since retired, Djokovic appears to be well-placed to extend his advantage in the Grand Slam title list.

He has also been world No 1 for longer than Federer and Nadal and has a winning record against both of his great rivals.

Statistically, the debate over who will be etched into the record books as the GOAT of tennis appears to be over, but the discussion over who will be remembered as the ultimate hero of the sport rumbles on.

Novak Djokovic Scores 1000th Win: 'I'm Really Blessed and Privileged'

Now Ferdinand has entered the never-ending tenning debate over who will leave the biggest legacy in the sport and he admitted he got more enjoyment watching the graceful 20-time Grand Slam king Federer play than he does watching the more clinical and ruthless Djokovic.

He also reflected on a meeting with Federer and suggested it was one of the highlights of his career working in broadcasting.

When asked who he enjoyed watching more than any other player on a tennis court, the former England defender had no hesitation in offering up a quick answer.

Why Wimbledon favorite Novak Djokovic's reputation doesn't match his tennis - Los Angeles Times

“It has to be Federer, To see the way Federer slapped that backhand away when it was firing was a thing of beauty,” he added.

“Another thing about him that no one else has ever done in tennis is make me look at the outfit he was wearing when he walked out on the Centre Court.

“That clean white outfit and the Rolex watch. I used to look at him and think this guy is different level.

“I actually interviewed Federer once. The day after he broke the record for winning the most titles at Wimbledon.

“Nike rented out a house in Wimbledon and I went there to interview him and it was one of the best moments I have had. I remember I was nervous.”

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TENNIS

Roger Federer’s elegance is “unmatched” but he’s not the GOAT, suggests Serena Williams’ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou

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Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently suggested that Roger Federer doesn’t have a plausible shot at being the greatest player of all time.

Roger Federer’s elegance is “unmatched” but he’s not the GOAT, insinuates Serena Williams’ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Federer won 20 Major titles during a career than spanned more than two decades. He was also renowned for his effortless style of play, through which he was able to monopolize the majority of tennis fans.

Although the Swiss maestro transcended the sport through his class both on and off the court, his Grand Slam tally was eventually overtaken by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

In that context, Serena Williams’ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou probably saw fit to express his views on the race for bragging rights between Djokovic, Nadal and Federer on his X handle on Thursday (January 4).

The Frenchman insisted that the Swiss would always be idolized for his elegance. But he conceded in the same breath that such subjective factors don’t have any bearing on the GOAT debate.

“No doubt that Roger’s elegance and inspired tennis is unmatched as much as there is no discussion about who is the Goat. In that matter, sports achievements is the only metric,” Mouratoglou said on X (formerly Twitter).

https://x.com/pmouratoglou/status/1742992033843675544?s=20

“Most of his career, Novak Djokovic has been at the top even though he played in the same era as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal” – Patrick Mouratoglou

Novak Djokovic poses with the 2023 Australian Open trophy
Novak Djokovic poses with the 2023 Australian Open trophy

Patrick Mouratoglou admittedly considers Novak Djokovic to be the undisputed GOAT, owing to the latter having won the most big tournaments in tennis history. The 53-year-old showered rich praise on the Serb a month ago, claiming that he had never seen such a dominant player in their late 30s.

He also expressed his admiration towards the 24-time Major winner for ending Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s duopoly in the last decade.

“I’ve never seen in the history of tennis someone who is on top of their game at 36, as much as they were at 26, 28. It’s a whole career of being at the top,” the Frenchman told Tennis Majors last December. “He had one or two difficult years, but most of his career he’s been at the top of his game, even though he played in the same era as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, which says even more about how an incredible, dominant player he is.”

Mouratoglou added that in his opinion, the GOAT debate was “completely dead” after Djokovic’s triumphs at three of the four Majors last year.

“I think the famous debate about who is the GOAT, I guess, is completely dead now after this incredible year, three more Grand Slams, plus one final. He has the record almost everywhere of all – number of Masters 1000s, number of weeks No 1, number of Grand Slams – and he’s still playing, he’s still at the top,” he said.

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TENNIS

‘We Don’t Want to Miss Nadal’ – 2-Year-Old Roger Federer Regret Unveiled as French Journalist Lays Bare Discerning Opinion

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It was the 2021 French Open. Who knew it might be the last Roland Garros of the Swiss maestro, Roger Federer? The 20-time Grand Slam champion reached the fourth round before withdrawing from the tournament. It was a sad end for the legendary Swiss star as that became his final appearance at that event. 2 years after bidding farewell to Federer at Roland Garros, French journalist, Benoit Maylin has made clear the crowd’s expectations about Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard is making a comeback early next year after missing almost the entire of this year due to injuries. In what could potentially be his last appearance at the 2024 French Open, Maylin has made a candid confession about him.

What did the French journalist say about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
Recently, a video by ‘Sans Filet’ went viral on Twitter where a French journalist, Benoit Maylin, made an honest confession about two legends of the game, Federer and Nadal. While the former has retired, Nadal will be making a comeback next year after a lengthy injury layoff.

Talking about them, Maylin said, “We missed Federer, we don’t want to miss Nadal! We want him to come back, but it’s impossible to imagine that he can play at his level again.”

https://x.com/SansFilet/status/1730916506555322617?s=20

Rafael Nadal has been in much news of late as he broke his silence regarding his comeback. The former World Number 1 said that he’ll be making a comeback in Brisbane next year ahead of the Australian Open. This has made his fans happy as they’ll be able to see their hero after a lengthy period. Amidst this, another journalist discussed about Nadal’s retirement plans.

Jon Wertheim on Rafael Nadal’s retirement plans
At 37, Nadal is nearing the end of his illustrious career. Injuries have been a common problem for him of late as he aims to finish his career on a high by making a return next year. A few weeks back, the famous sports journalist, Wertheim, opened up about Nadal’s retirement plans.

Talking about this, he said, “I think there’s an element of him that says listen, I’ve achieved so much. I could see him playing a highly abbreviated schedule. Barcelona, Madrid maybe throw in Monte Carlo and calling it a career at Roland Garros.”

However, it all depends upon how Rafael Nadal performs on his return to the sport. Nonetheless, fans will be eagerly waiting and hoping to see the best of him on the court. Are you excited?

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TENNIS

Roger Federer reduced to tears after Swiss tennis icon receives special invite

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Roger Federer has been enjoying his retirement this year, and one event earlier this week was so special that it reduced the Swiss icon to tears.

Roger Federer made a surprise appearance on stage at Andrea Bocelli’s concert in Zurich on Monday night. The tennis legend was reduced to tears as the Italian tenor concluded his performance with a jaw-dropping rendition of the famous ‘Nessun Dorma’.

Roger Federer Announces Retirement from Tennis After 20 Grand Slam Titles - WSJ

Federer has been enjoying his retirement to the fullest since bowing out from the sport at the Laver Cup last year. The Swiss star has made several special guest appearances at competitions since and this is not the first time he’s been on stage at a concert.

With plenty of spare time on his hands, Federer has had the opportunity to enjoy more live music over the past few months – and his appearances at concerts has not gone unnoticed by artists spotting his name on the guest list.

Meet the new Roger Federer, tennis's answer to David Beckham

Whilst attending Bocelli’s concert on Monday night, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was invited up on stage by the singer so that he could be by his side for his final song. Whilst preparing for his final number, Bocelli was heard saying: “Among us tonight, there is a living legend, Roger Federer.

“For me, it’s really an honor to dedicate the last hour to him for the emotions that he gave to everybody and I would like to have him here on stage.”

Federer duly accepted the offer and was escorted to the stage promptly by security. The pair embraced on stage before Boncelli belted out his iconic ‘Nessun Dorma’, which brought the house down. Federer was visibly moved by the performance, failing to hold back the tears as he stood aside the artist.

Roger Federer admits he misses 'everything about the game' after retirement from tennis | The Independent

The 42-year-old was seen wiping his face throughout the performance, evidently touched by Bocelli’s unbelievable vocals. Federer’s appearance was vastly different to when he decided to go on stage with Coldplay in Zurich earlier this year, though lead singer Chris Martin did give the tennis legend plenty of fair warning.

Speaking of when he received the message from the multi-award-winning artist, Federer explained: “It was I got the invitation from Chris Martin from Coldplay. He said, ‘Don’t you want to come up on stage tomorrow?’ I was in Zurich at the time I just came back from an Elton John concert. You know stuff you just do when you don’t have much to do anymore.

Roger Federer's Last Match Is Doubles Loss With Rafael Nadal

“I looked at my daughter and I told her, ‘Do you think I should be going on stage to do this?’ And she was half-asleep, but told me, ‘Of course, papa, you only live once.’ Of course, I enjoyed it after. But, you know, I don’t need those anxiety moments anymore. I’m just happy and quite content to be away from it all, but I finished on top, you know, this is my music career. I ended it right there, I dropped the mic.”

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TENNIS

Novak Djokovic names who will replace him, Nadal and Federer as retirement comment made

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Novak Djokovic has predicted which three young talents will replace him, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Novak Djokovic has predicted that Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune will become tennis’ next great triumvirate. Djokovic is a member of the Big Three alongside Rafael Nadal and the now-retired Roger Federer, and fans have wondered which trio will follow in their footsteps once the Serb and Nadal have stepped away from the court.

Novak Djokovic | Biography, Grand Slams, & Facts | Britannica

The World No 1 defeated Sinner to claim a record seventh ATP Finals triumph on Sunday. He had previously lost to the Italian in the group stage of the tournament but recovered to claim the trophy.

Djokovic has now named the 22-year-old among the young stars who will eventually replace him, Nadal and Federer. However, the 36-year-old veteran has vowed to keep going until “they start kicking my butt”.

Alcaraz, Sinner and Rune have been listed by Djokovic as the three tennis aces to overtake the Big Three. But Djokovic has vowed to “hang around” in a quest for further silverware and hinted that he wants to add Olympic gold to his array of honors.

“Carlos, Jannik and Holger are the big three.. the next big three, if you want to call them. They are going to carry this sport,” Djokovic said.

Jannik Sinner playing in the ATP Finals
Jannik Sinner can rival Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, Novak Djokovic says

“I will hang on for as long as I feel like hanging on, as long as I’m able to win against them on the big stage. I’ll still keep going because why stop if you’re still winning the biggest titles.

“Once they start to kick my butt, then I will consider probably having a little break or maybe a permanent break from professional tennis.”

Djokovic has revealed that he wants to win Olympic gold in Paris next year. The US Open champion has opened up on his plans for 2024, suggesting that he will target all four Grand Slams.

Wimbledon was the only major Djokovic failed to win in 2023, losing the final against the impressive Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic kisses the ATP trophy
Novak Djokovic will target Olympic gold in Paris in 2024

But asked what else he could achieve in his career, he smiled before joking: “Well, you can win four Slams and Olympic gold.”

Djokovic added: “I have always the highest ambitions and goals. That’s not going to be different for the next year, that’s for sure. The drive that I have is still there.

“Motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in sport, is still present. For me, obviously those are Grand Slams and Finals, and next year hopefully also Olympic Games.”

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