By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, September 18, 2024

 

"With Rafa we don't know what's going to happen, we have to see," Roger Federer told the media at Laver Cup in Berlin.

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty for Laver Cup

Big 3 champions Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal stood shoulder to shoulder for Federer's farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup in London.

Former world No. 1 Federer has one wish for his fellow Grand Slam champions—they play on.

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Speaking to the media at Laver Cup Berlin today, Federer shared his views about the competitive futures of Djokovic and Nadal.

The Swiss Maestro believes Djokovic will be one of the top three contenders for the Australian Open championship in January.

Pointing to Djokovic's rousing run to the Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games in July and the fact the Serbian superstar is a 10-time Australian Open champion, Federer views Djokovic as a favorite to win a record 25th major championship in Melbourne.

"Novak, winning the Olympics and playing somewhat let’s say a full season — he didn’t bow out because of injuries, he chose to play less which is normal when you get a bit older," Federer said of Djokovic. "“I feel like he has chances moving forward. "I look forward to Australia which is the next Slam. I think [Novak is] definitely going to be one of the favorites along with Sinner and Alcaraz.

"I think the Australian Open story will be a very cool one to follow.”



King of Clay Nadal, who withdrew from this weekend's Laver Cup, has not played since the Paris Olympics.

Federer said it's tough to predict Nadal's future between the lines because of injury-induced inactivity.

"With Rafa we don’t know—it remains to be seen," Federer said. "It’s hard for me to make a prediction on Rafa because of the little tennis he has played this year."

There is speculation Nadal could join Spain, captain by good friend David Ferrer, for the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, Spain November.

Could Nadal, who said in Paris he'd make a retirement decision after the Olympic Games, say farewell on home soil at Davis Cup?

Maybe one of the most under appreciated aspects of Nadal's career is the king of clay is the titan of team play. Nadal has registered a phenomenal 29-1 singles mark in Davis Cup, owns a Davis Cup record 32-match winning streak (combined singles and doubles) and has helped Spain to five Davis Cup championships.

Nadal did not drop a match or surrender serve, winning all eight matches he played, to help Spain to the 2019 Davis Cup championship.

Representing Spain inspires force of nature intensity in Nadal, who won the Olympic singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before partnering buddy Marc Lopez to the doubles gold at the 2016 Rio Games.Nadal and Chilean Nicolás Massú are the only men in Open Era history to win Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.



At the 2022 ATP Finals in Turin, Nadal shared he would "love to say good-bye from that beautiful [Davis Cup] competition."

"Let's see if I'm able to play again the Davis Cup one day. I am not sure about it," Nadal told the media in Turin. "Of course, in my mind, [I] would love to say good-bye from that beautiful competition playing. Let's see what can happen in the future."

Previously, Federer said while he hopes Nadal continues to play the Spanish superstar "can do whatever he wants." 

"He can do anything he wants. He is one of the most iconic tennis players we have had in our sport," Federer told NBC.  "I hope he retires in the way he wants. It's up to him to decide how he wants to say goodbye.

"I want him to play longer than you might think, but it all depends on his body."