Like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal spent most of his career chasing Roger Federer’s Grand Slam title tally.

Federer was well ahead of his longtime rivals in the 2000s, having captured 15 of his 20 major crowns before the 2010 season, while Nadal had six and Djokovic just one. But in the 2010s, the Serb and the Spaniard began to ramp up their success at the four biggest stages in tennis, and both ultimately surpassed the Swiss legend.

The 2010 season marked Nadal’s most successful season at majors, in which he won Roland Garros, Wimbledon and finally an elusive US Open title to complete the Career Grand Slam.

After defeating Djokovic in the US Open final that year to complete the set of four, Nadal was asked what he has to achieve to convince himself he is ahead of Federer and maybe even the greatest ever. He replied: “There remains a lot of titles, so that’s no doubt about that, no?

I think I am more than happy that with my titles, for sure — I think is talk about if I am better or worse than Roger is stupid, because the titles say he’s much better than me, so that’s the true at that moment. I think will be the true all my life.

How would you feel if Novak Djokovic got a wildcard to the ATP Finals?

Is there any changes you'd make to the current qualification system?

“But, sure, for me, always, always Roger was an example, especially because he improved his tennis I think during all his career, and that’s a good thing that you can copy, no? So I try to copy this, and I know Roger and me are different, much different styles. Being better than Roger I don’t think so is the right moment to talk about that, because I am — I don’t think that.”

Nadal equalled Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles at the 2020 French Open. He broke the record at the 2022 Australian Open, where he came back from two sets down in a remarkable final against Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic then surpassed Nadal’s tally later that season by winning Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal responded when asked how long the rivalry would last

Asked how long he thought the rivalry with Federer would last, Nadal said: “I don’t know. Well, now Novak is, too, but he has to defend a lot of points now in the end of the season now, Novak, too. He gonna have his chance to be win the year No. 2, Novak, too.

“But Roger is there, too, to finish No. 2. You know, we start every year, and a lot of new players and good players are there like — well, not new, Novak and Andy are not new, Andy Murray, but always come new players, very good players.

“But for the last six years, Roger and me was — we were No. 1 and No. 2, no? So that’s probably a great rivalry since that six years. We will see what happens in the future. I am not a genius.”

Nadal enjoyed a winning record against Federer, leading their head-to-head 24-16.