Roger Federer: 'Rafael Nadal has probably been my most challenging rival'
In a press conference, Roger Federer commented on his favourite rivalries. The Swiss had many and he mentioned several of them. "There is definitely a few of them and they go in phases", said the Swiss.
"My favourite time in a way is when I was coming up and about, just because I was playing against a guy from TV and it was like, really I am playing against Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Carlos Moya and Tim Henman. I was like Wow, this guy has such beautiful volleys or his forehand is amazing, or his service outrages, or I have never seen a guy return like this and that you are on the same court is an Honor and that's something that really marks you and that's like kid in a candy store feeling, and then you are sort of a younger guy pushed through and that was a very strong generation with Rafa Nadal, Murray and Djokovic. So playing against them in the beginning is honestly quite strange because you are now the older guy and they look up to you but not quite, and they want to beat you because I am not ten years apart with them but only five or six but it is like a new generation and mentally for me it was quite a challenge just getting over that hurdle and Rafa for that matter because of the way he plays with his left-handed topspin and so forth he has really made think through my game and what do I need to change to compete and beat him. He has been probably the most challenging for me overall combined with Lleyton Hewitt at the beginning of my career to play against", concluded the 20-time Grand Slam winner.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2U1Y91O
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