“Made Me a Better Player”: Roger Federer on Playing Against Novak Djokovic

Published 03/06/2021, 7:03 AM EST

The excitement for Qatar Open 2021 is growing extensively since Roger Federer has decided to mark his comeback there. Already in Doha, he recently participated in a virtual Q&A with kids.

Unsurprisingly, the questions brought up some witty responses from the Swiss maestro. It is all that tennis was missing for the last 13 months, a little bit of the Federer magic.

Moreover, the second seed will not face either of his foes, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, in Doha. He might, however, will meet two next-generation guns in Dominic Thiem and defending champion Andrey Rublev.

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Roger Federer heaps huge praise for Novak Djokovic

When asked what his strategy was for when he plays against the Serbian World No. 1, Roger Federer had a hilarious comeback, and following that, nothing but kind words for Djokovic.

Notably, the 18th time Grand Slam champion wears the badge of defeating Federer the most. In their 50 encounters so far, the Serbian has won 27 times while the Swiss has emerged victorious 23 times.

Dominic Thiem Eyeing History at the 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships

When the kid inquired about his strategy, he smilingly said, “Not to lose.”

Further, the 39-year-old expressed his admiration for the Serbian. “I enjoy playing against him. I really feel like we get the best out of each other,” the Swiss maestro said.

Federer went on to explain that the particular day, the type of court, the matches leading up to it, and the last match against the opponent are vital in such competitions.

Moreover, he said that against best players, one has to bring their best games as well, or it wouldn’t work. For that, Federer gave the example of Djokovic, who has an unbelievable balance of defense and attack.

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“That’s why he’s one of the greatest players ever, so it’s been a pleasure to play against him. He’s also one of the players who have made me a better player,” Federer added.

After listening to this, tennis fans will be hoping to see the pair match up again and deliver some scintillating tennis. But since Djokovic will not play Dubai and Federer has withdrawn from Miami, it is uncertain when it will happen. Above all, starting from the 8th of March, the King will be back on the tennis court.

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Will Federer put up a successful campaign in Doha?

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Purav Joshi is a Tennis author at EssentiallySports. Having a degree in Films, Television and Media Production, he guided his passion for writing and journalism into the sport of aces and rallies. With over 2 years of experience as a copywriter, Purav has authored over 500 tennis articles.

“Made Me a Better Player”: Roger Federer on Playing Against Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer heaps huge praise for Novak Djokovic

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