22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal said that watching Roger Federer play had a greater influence on him than Novak Djokovic. Nadal and Federer have locked horns with each other 40 times in their career, out of which 24 of them were in finals.

Nadal had the upper hand over the Swiss legend, winning 24 matches while losing only 16. The last time they faced in men’s singles was in the semi-final of Wimbledon back in 2019 when Federer won 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 37-year-old Nadal also partnered Federer in the latter’s last competitive match in 2022 in the Laver Cup. Nadal heaped praise on Federer, saying that the legendary player has had a huge influence on his career.

“Since I have memory, he is the player who has impressed me the most, the one who has entertained me the most, the one who has moved me the most. Watching Federer play has moved me more than Djokovic, and in the end, tennis is about emotion; it’s the emotion that draws you to it,” Nadal was quoted as saying on El Pa. 

Nadal is currently taking part in the ongoing edition of the Brisbane International where he is set to face former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the first round match on Tuesday, 2nd January.