Novak Djokovic hopes to hang out with Roger Feder and Rafael Nadal in retirement

The Big Three enjoyed a legendary rivalry as they dominated tennis for the best part of two decades, winning 66 majors between them and setting numerous other records along the way.

But Federer was the first call it a day as he played his last professional match in September 2022 and two years later Nadal also hung up his racket, leaving Djokovic as the last man standing.

Djokovic admitted he was "proud" to be part of the golden era of tennis, saying: "The rivalry that we had between the three of us, the rivalries are eternal, I think. It's just something that leaves an incredible mark and legacy on this sport. Something that will last forever. Something that I'm very proud of, very happy to be part of that group.

"They've been an integral part of my success and the history that I made of the sport. The rivalries with them have toughened me up like nothing has done throughout my career. So that's on the tennis side."

Djokovic didn't enjoy a close relationship with Nadal and Federer as he was seen as the disrupter early on his career after breaking the Fedal - as Federer and Nadal are known as - Big Two partnership to form the Big Three.

But the Big Three eventually became the Big One as Djokovic surpassed most of the Nadal and Federer records.

The Serbian added: "And privately it's kind of going up and down, to be honest. I try to be always respectful and friendly to them off the court.

"But I didn't have the acceptance early on, 'cause I did go out on the court saying and showing that I'm confident that I want to win. And I don't think that both of them maybe liked that in the early days.

"Particularly because most of the players were going out to play them, not to win. And because of that confident stance, they probably were even more distanced from me. And that's fine. I accepted it as it is. I understood the messaging that I got, which was we are rivals and nothing else.

"And to be quite frank, it's very difficult to be a friend on the tour. If you are biggest rivals, and you're constantly competing and you're number one and two and three in the world, and for you to be close, go for dinners and family trips, it's tough to expect that, to be honest."

But they have all come a long way since those early days and the nature of relationship has changed over the years.

They won't quite sail into the sunset together, but Djokovic admitted: "I will definitely extend my invitation to both of these guys for some chilling, relaxing time, and reflection."

When asked if they could meet up one day, Djokovic replied: "I actually share the same excitement as you do with this idea. I do wish to have a drink or two with them and just open up and talk about the things that annoyed everyone about me! Or vice versa, whatever it is. Let's just put it all out there.

"And I think I would love to also pick their brains and understand what they were thinking about, how they were handling certain situations on the court, pressures of the world that is on your shoulders when you're at the top of the game. And I have my observations, 'cause I did observe them as they did observe me over the years. But it's different when you hear it from the man himself.

"So I hope that in some kind of environment that is really relaxing, one day we can all open up and reflect. It would be great for us. But also I think it would send a great message to the people who follow tennis and sports that, hey, three of us getting together."

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