The Future of Nadal & Djokovic | Three Ep. 162

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple...
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Three is a show about Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. These competitively dominant tennis icons have been a lifeline to millions of fans around the world. We look to tell their stories through discussions of tennis history, tactics, psychology, technique and more.
California-based Joel Drucker has been writing about tennis for nearly 40 years, his work appearing in such outlets as Tennis Channel, Tennis.com, Racquet and a host of general interest media, including the New York Times, HBO, CBS, Cigar Aficionado, Men's Journal and People Magazine. Author of the book, "Jimmy Connors Saved My Life," Joel is also a historian-at-large for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Amy Lundy is a reporter whose work has been featured on ESPN, CNN and The Golf Channel. She is Director of Films at The Tennis Congress.
Gill Gross is the host of Monday Match Analysis. His weekly KZbin show, which analyzes ATP matches and news, has amassed over 5,000 subscribers.
Music: Big Bird's Date Night by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Artist: www.twinmusicom...

[@br1729]

The last tournament Nadal won was the French Open in 2022--THAT was his fitting send-off. He just didn't know it.

[@tonydecastro6340]

Nadal is not the same player. Pure and simple. That final between Alcaraz and Sinner, it is clear that that level of play is now beyond him. It is not about skills. It is just about age. And surface no longer matters.

[@gerardogilsanz1171]

We missed you

[@tonitomate9508]

Hey Guys u r back.. amazing to listen u 3 again and it’s my favourite tennis pc… ❤️❤️❤️ for u 3

[@enigmaparadox987]

In response to Gill's question, can Novak flip the switch and just show up for the grand Slams? I would say no because his match fitness will not be up to standard, his ranking will drop, which leads to harder opponents in earlier rounds and because his adapted game is now built more around offence and efficiency of movement instead of the old game of defence and counter punching.

[@tomg6826]

Amy has the right idea--time to look forward. Time to transition from the Big Three to the future. I'm sure your audience will still want to hear what you all have to say.

[@TuningintotheOne4BLN]

GREAT to see the J-A-G THREE back in action. Such a speculative artform. Rafa & Nole still want to play. Rafa will go as far as his body takes him in 2025 selectively picking & choosing. Agree with the dial/dimmer metaphor. Think Novak proved this year with the Gold Medal that he can & will be able to STILL bring his best at times. Let's see what happens in AO-25 & then continue the meanderings :) Big-Hugs-Cheers, Milan

[@Jorge_Vegano]

I'm actually excited to see Djokovic in 2025 ranked outside the top 8 - so much "early popcorn" potential!

[@fretstain]

that 6 kings trailer probably kept an entire vfx studio alive. Industry is rough right now.

[@mulletshizzle]

This episode is so good! So deep!

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

Rafa is just holding on hoping for one last moment of glory. Novak will return and have a good 2025 season. Roger will continue flying around the world and being a positive influence on the world of tennis.

[@step_down-w2b]

There is still a lot for him with regard to exhibitions etc

[@lornawilliams550]

It's Rafa's prerogative.

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

@@lornawilliams550 he will stop playing when he knows he cannot win.

[@enigmaparadox987]

Nadal is done! He can play for pride but he’s clearly a step too slow. Doesn’t matter if he can sting the forehand. Real question is can Novak hang with Alcaraz and Sinner? Time doesn’t help… but I reserve some hope for the 🐐

[@timothylee2772]

The crazy thing is that if Alcaraz and Sinner are not playing in 2025, Djokovic would still be the clear favorite to win all the Slams. Only Alcaraz and Sinner stand in the way.

[@BarryMcCockiner1]

Novak is done. He needs to take more steroids to even stay competitive

[@Fraudkovic]

Djokovic is done just as much Nadal. No atp titles for either of them

[@timothylee2772]

@@enigmaparadox987 Haters gonna hate.🤣🤣

[@mickaellandry9726]

​@@BarryMcCockiner1why you are such a hater dude? 🤦‍♂️

[@bomberoflamenco]

I was sooooo happy to see this video. We missed the GOATS

[@juanquintana6070]

Thank you 3, you are always entertaining and incisive on your view of the great players of this era, but is also right that big 3 era is on the finish line. It would be nice a debate what is next with the podcast. Alcaraz and Sinner then, or something different. You are part of our relationship with tennis. Thank you

[@juancristobalguzman2200]

Great show. Thanks

[@drstorytell182]

Missed you all❤

[@step_down-w2b]

I heard the loss at Davis Cup affected Novak deeply last year and ruined any sort of preparation for 2024. Not sure how much of it is just wishful thinking to find excuses but if true it makes a lot of sense why in such a short time the drive seemed to have gone amiss. (Although a case could be made that the drive would have disappeared either way)

[@alextabet9247]

Novak's goal has been majors and Serbia for the past 2-3 seasons. Not much has changed. That does not mean he will not play Masters and ATP 500 events, and win them. It just means that he will approach those "lesser" tournaments as tuneups for the majors.

[@parthkulkarni3468]

Joel looks like a mad scientist

[@westonmeyer3110]

Always has. LOL

[@blackkitty9054]

Nadal might play doubles at Davis Cup. I doubt he will play a singles match, unless he really improved his form since the olympics.

[@joannemoore3976]

Agree, expect he will play doubles and he is a good doubles player so why not. If this is it, he deserves a send off playing for his country.

[@Gizo02]

Controversial opinion, and it clearly won’t happen, but I think Djokovic should consider skipping Roland Garros, and also enter a grass court tune up event ahead of Wimbledon. He clearly has a much better chance of winning Wimbledon than RG, helped by the fact that the overall level of competition on grass is so weak (understandably so given how little players play and train on the surface) these days.

[@DaveOwen-vn6ie]

And yet the ONLY time he won Olympic Gold was when they were held on clay this year

[@Gizo02]

@@DaveOwen-vn6ie with best of 3 set matches in every round, and with huge determination to win a gold medal for his country and complete his collection of big titles. Best of 5 set matches in every round on clay is completely different. Effectively substituting Roland Garros for a grass court tune-up, to specifically sharpen his game on grass, could help his Wimbledon title chances.

[@realtd8666]

It's a problem for Rafa that he seems to play shots that land nowhere deep as they should in the court. During the match with Djokovic at the olympics his shots were landing on the service line..

[@michael8597]

Sinner might soon be banned for one or even two years which has not been taken into consideration. There is no guarantee as to how he would turn up after such a long hiatus.

[@lornawilliams550]

Rafa will do what Rafa wants to do. Just let him be

[@ambreen6019]

I wanted Nadal today have a great send off! That he truly deserves. As his fan I am sad for him

[@gurvijaygill328]

First to comment!! So great to have three of you back ❤ I was missing this podcast so dearly.

[@sbgtrev]

A more pertinent topic is the future of this podcast

[@Jalleur14325]

They may well switch to the Alcaraz Sinner rivalry

[@benjaminpedersen9548]

They have kind of addressed this: They are three.

[@lornawilliams550]

Post the "Big 3", the podcast will still continue, but under a different name as they turn to different players.

[@aurei7775]

If someone can get into Novaks ear if he wants to min max slams. He should do what Nadal & Fed did successfully. Skip either Wimbledon or RG & focus & gain form on the surface and slam at hand. Less chance of injury, more time to rest, more time to get in form, he needs to do thati mo especially at his age I'd say skip Wimbledon, RG is still his most consistent surface. Then straight after go into Hardcourt form while everyone is doing Wimbledon and prepare for USO

[@danicadabic9789]

Skip Wimbledon?! That would be the easiest slam for him to win. RG is too hard and many younger players can catch him off guard. He basically reached the Wimbledon final hopping on one leg this year.

[@Jalleur14325]

Skip Wimbledon? That is literally the most important major and Djokovics best major outside of AO (as well as his favourite).

[@aurei7775]

@@danicadabic9789 Either is fine. I'd say Wimy since Alcaraz is going to vulture the slams there. RG novak has made 15QF in a row and now does not have NAdal to deal with anymore, only downside it's more exhausting, so I hope Novak uses his judgement and skips 1. Have a headstart for USO training on hardcourt

[@GaryLyons]

No way in hell will Djokovic skip Wimbledon

[@rublo1]

Bercy is in paris! Literally very centre of paris

[@jennes3200]

I hope Nadal does retire at this point bc he is levels below the top guys now. Even Djokovic will find it difficult in 2025 but could still compete in the 5-10 rankings range

[@kennethmaxwell4809]

If Novak was a stock he is a ‘sell’ and has been throughout 2024. He has been unfortunate with injury ( Rome and RG) but now his motivation has noticeably waned and without competitive preparation he does not win another title at 1000 and Slam level. His drop in the rankings means he risks playing top players earlier before he can play himself in. He needs to get a serve coach back in his team. Ironically winning the Olympic Gold seems to have reduced his hunger.The gold was his kryptonite.

[@wildlive1296]

The gold was the 1 thing that eluded him. It would make a lot of sense for him to retire now.

[@kennethmaxwell4809]

Amy says ‘I liked it’ about Rafa’s disingenuous withdrawal from the Laver Cup. Rafa is just staying out there taking the money.Fans turn up on the basis he is turning up and then tickets sold he withdraws. A semi final position in the 6 Kings Slam. Tarnishing his legacy. Murray is right.

[@joannemoore3976]

Yeh but seriously, does he need money at this stage.

[@Darthtoneeee]

Tarnishing his legacy lolll

[@kennethmaxwell4809]

@@joannemoore3976 you are correct that he does not need the money but like most people he can resist anything other than temptation. He has earned ( pun intended) to do what he wants but that does not mean I agree with his actions at the Laver Cup. Interesting transition now from the Big Three. Who do you think will be the next new Slam winner in the men’s and women’s game?

[@joannemoore3976]

@@kennethmaxwell4809 maybe Zverev as in first time Slam winner for the men, if he can get over his big match nerves. Women? Feels pretty wide open. Would love to see Muchova do well now she is playing again.

[@kennethmaxwell4809]

@@joannemoore3976 agree with Muchova. I see your angle on Zverev. I think the men have a lot of great French and Italian players 23 and younger and I also like Mensik. I think Novak will struggle to get to Roger’s 103 ATP titles u less he plays more and drops down to ATP 250 or 500 and I do not see that happening.

[@raghu2390]

Hope the goat can say the goodbye he deserves at Málaga in November 😢

[@Jalleur14325]

Nadal wanted to have a final flourish, he seems to be a slow fizzle...Amy has it right about the cringe at the Olympics. But well he and Alcaraz had a couple of nice moments. Yes Gill true about hard court, but Davis cup wouldn't be selecting their best player if they put Nadal forward. Oh the Saudi thing... I wont be watching. Although many countries dont have that good human rights records but Saudi is egregious. And the WTA finals, given women's rights it's even worse.

[@ben1147]

Your personal viewership doesn't matter. They just want headlines and pictures that associate their image with Euro-American respectable bourgeois institutions. Their human rights are a lot better than the country which hosted the Tel Aviv 250 a few years ago and no one complained then. Pick your battles

[@nemanjamilosevic1370]

Mats is a fool.

[@nemanjamilosevic1370]

32:39 why did he said that. Djokovic beat those guys multiple times past his prime. Alcaraz looks unstopable when he hits the ball hard,but you got a look at an entire match to see that better players don't just hit the ball hard they do other stuff too.Alcaraz has all the tools but he is not perfect.

[@step_down-w2b]

Probably just to hype up the sport.

[@nemanjamilosevic1370]

@@step_down-w2b that too

[@chiefnama790]

It's called recency bias. However, the level in that beijing final was big three level, it didn't surpass it, but it definitely reached it. The level between Sinner and Alcaraz was the highest we've seen since peak Djokovic, Nadal and Fed.

[@br1729]

Djokovic is done. Amy had to slip in the GOAT nonsense about Djokovic. So I have to slip in this: Djokovic is done at the majors. His motivation and results have taken a step down this year, his worst since 2017. Now he’s not even talking like a guy motivated to regain the mountaintop, which as the show points out, requires playing hard and training hard BEFORE the majors, not just during them. 3 = 0.

[@milanpalinic6434]

Novak just this year played two GS finals, get injured and left RG undefeated, won Olympics which was his biggest goal, and get eliminated early in US Open. Not too bad.....

[@DaveOwen-vn6ie]

TWO grand slam finals?!? Really? Name them

[@michael8597]

Nadal is in a corrnelian Shakespearan dilemma: "To be or not to be". There is still that constant urge and yearning for Nadal to win two more slams to equal Novak, but he also realises his physical limitations and that is why he is playing this drama every now and then which accentuates several fold during off clay season as has been throughout his career. Better for him to quit gracefully rather than enact such dilly dallying which is fast eroding his credibility, if there is any thing still left.

[@vijayla21]

Nadal who never smashed a racquet in his life is more graceful than Fakovic as always. The nole clowns probably knew this but just cant accept reality.

[@michael8597]

@@vijayla21 Smashing one's own racquets is not a big deal as I already pointed out. You abominable nutcase is making a big fuss about it because you clearly suffer from a severe drought of facts and stats to contest your - facile and weak - arguments on a logical plane. LoL 😂 😂 😂 😂 The more gracious nature of an athlete is only exhibited in defeats, after the match, where Novak is in his most cordial self in congratulating his victorious opponents with a smiling visage, effulgent praise and authentic warm hugs. That is the primary reason he has won a record five Laurus Sportsmanship awards. Period.

[@michael8597]

@@vijayla21 I am not 100% for skipping US open; " I cannot win" for skipping Laver Cup. But everything becomes okay for Jeddah tour due to Vitamin M. Dope Dal is becoming a big comedian like you.

[@vijayla21]

@@michael8597 Ask the fans around the world who’ more graceful, Federer, Nadal or fakovic? We all know the answers. Cope harder.

[@michael8597]

@@vijayla21 There is a big reason why Novak won a record 5 Laurus Sportsmanship awards despite breaking racquets, whereas Clay Dal won just twice. LoL 🤣🤣🤣

[@Lucatubo69]

Zero ATP titles for Djokovic . (Yes I am aware he won the gold and I am one admirer). Amy will tell us he still has the end of the season to recover….

[@JB-im5kt]

Bro, Nole owes nothing to anyone. He competed tennis. He won. Period.

[@jus_danny]

By the way Olympic gold is considered a title in case you were not aware

[@GaryLyons]

Except Djokovic doesn’t have zero titles in 2024. He has the title he craves more than any other this year

[@Lucatubo69]

@@JB-im5kt just to make clear Nole if the goat for me. He still has not won an atp title this year

[@Lucatubo69]

@@jus_danny you are right. I corrected the text. ATP tirle

[@BeepsAndBeats]

Will ATP let them cheat like sinner?

[@jonathanbustamante660]

I hope so, so you can continue being yourself

[@11T872]

Dude Alcaraz body isn't natural

[@joannemoore3976]

Idiotic remark as a) Sinner's case was in no way handled by the ATP and b) none of the anti doping organisations including WADA are accusing Sinner of any 'intent' to dope. So either you are truly ignorant of the case or you are simply looking for an opportunity to make a cheap shot - I suspect the latter.

[@Lucatubo69]

@@BeepsAndBeats funny how someone that has been exonerated is still culpable. Take that cream and you will win the us open. Guaranteed

[@goldwolf0606]

It’s over for Weakvak and GOATdal. Father Time is undefeated… but the videos of GOATdal pimp slapping and making Weakvak cry again and again will live on forever 😂😂😂

[@vijayla21]

😂😂welcome back 😂😂

[@mickaellandry9726]

Why are you not making fun on Djokovic about the Olympics gold medal as you used to do frenetically?

[@SrinivasRao-vd4ki]

​@@mickaellandry9726good question. He does not have an answer for it. Its' like a pain in the ... for him about Novak's Olympic Gold.

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Although not a great year compared to his usual standards, Djokovic still proved that he can beat the best, as evidenced by his Olympic final win over Alcaraz. If Novak can find motivation, then he still has a slam in him.

[@lsb9073]

20,000? Lol, think more like 200 000

[@milankostic5401]

Nadal is out of Top100 for about 16 months now and without a Big title for about 2 and half years. Where do anybody see any big playing future for him? I dont, at all That more looks like last about 3 years of ending career POSING around scheme, pretty much like what was Federer doing his last 3 years Probably he should do a RG 2025 his farewell ceremony, to officially say goodbye... and thats it And Djokovic too, but since he is a 1 year younger, then maybe his farewell will be in 2026 or 2027. One never know... but for certain end game is more or less very near for them. I still cant count off sporadic success posibility for Djokovic, but that the best we could expect nowdays 😇