Federer accepts Djokovic's invitation for drink with Nadal, but with a catch: 'Novak doesn’t know what...'

Roger Federer says he would love to accept Novak Djokovic’s offer for a reunion with fellow tennis legend Rafael Nadal and reminisce over their rivalry that had dominated the sport for more than a decade. Swiss icon Federer, however, added that the Serbian superstar isn’t quite in a position to reminisce about the good old days just yet, as he’s the only member of the legendary trio who’s still active on the professional circuit and is still going deep in the Grand Slams.

“Sure. Rivalries like that create a huge bond. I see it very differently today than before, with much more distance,” 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer told Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger.

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“Novak doesn’t know what that’s like yet. Rafa is slowly getting there. When you’re still playing, you can’t think about it the way I do today. The more time passes, the less you identify yourself as an individual player and the more you see the big picture. What’s funny is: Someone might have taken something totally personally—and you can’t even remember it anymore. I’m definitely up for sitting down together and talking about the good old days," the 44-year-old added.

‘Sip a margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal’

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, has recently talked about sipping “a margarita on the beach” with former rivals Federer and Nadal at this year’s Wimbledon, where he had lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

“I don’t reflect fully on everything I have been through. I would like to, but I think that’s going to come probably when I set the racket aside and I sip a margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything!” Djokovic had said after the grass-court Grand Slam.

It’s not just at the Wimbledon where Djokovic had mentioned his desire to catch up with Federer and Nadal over a drink, hinting at the fact that he does miss their presence on the ATP Tour.

Federer was the first of the trio to hang up his racquet, having made his final appearance in a doubles match at the 2022 Laver Cup with Nadal as his partner. Nadal’s swansong would come two years later in the Davis Cup, where he made the final appearance of his illustrious career in Spain’s quarter-final defeat against Netherlands. The 39-year-old, however, would receive a grand farewell at the French Open this year where he was joined by Federer and Djokovic as well British icon Andy Murray.

Djokovic meanwhile, is still winning titles, having collected his 101st ATP title in Athens earlier this month before skipping the ATP Finals. But Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz dominating the sport over the last two years, and the 38-year-old having admitted he doesn’t have the physical fitness to play five-set tennis anymore, it remains to be seen if Djokovic continues past the 2026 season.