In the golden era of men’s tennis, where Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic reigned supreme as the “Big Three,” few players faced the daunting task of challenging their dominance as frequently as Milos Raonic. The Canadian powerhouse, known for his thunderous serve and relentless baseline game, recently shared candid insights into why Djokovic stood out as the most formidable opponent among the legendary trio. Speaking on The Changeover podcast ahead of the Italian Open, Raonic, a former World No. 3 and 2016 Wimbledon finalist, peeled back the curtain on the tactical and mental complexities of facing the Serbian maestro, offering a glimpse into the unparalleled challenge Djokovic posed.
Raonic, who holds a career record of eight ATP titles and a 0-12 head-to-head against Djokovic, explained that the Serbian’s game was an “unsolvable puzzle.” Unlike Federer and Nadal, whose strategies, while daunting, were more predictable, Djokovic’s approach left opponents grasping at straws. “You play Roger, you know what you kinda have to do, it’s a bit more clear, but there’s a lot of moments where it’s just not up to you—that guy can make you look really, really bad,” Raonic said, acknowledging Federer’s ability to dominate with flair. He added, “Against Federer and Nadal, we knew what we had to do,” but Djokovic’s adaptability made every match a disorienting ordeal. Raonic’s record against Federer (3-11) and Nadal (2-8) reflects hard-fought battles, including a memorable straight-sets win over Federer in the 2016 Brisbane Open final. Yet, Djokovic remained an impenetrable wall, with Raonic never securing a victory.
The Canadian’s analysis centered on Djokovic’s ability to neutralize opponents’ strengths while maintaining an elusive game plan. “The unique thing with Novak was, even watching other players play him a lot, you get in the rallies, you do all these things right,” Raonic noted. Yet, the outcome was often baffling. “You’ll lose to him 7-6, 6-4, and you’ll be like, okay I felt good, I was hitting the ball well. Then you’ll watch the match and be like, I felt I was in it—but rewinding it, you’re like, I really didn’t have any chances.” This psychological toll, where players felt competitive yet were systematically outmaneuvered, underscored Djokovic’s mastery. His 24 Grand Slam titles, the most among the Big Three, and his relentless consistency—evidenced by years of winning majors even in less dominant seasons—set him apart.
Raonic’s reflections come from a career shaped by the Big Three’s dominance. Since turning pro in 2008, he faced an era where Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic amassed 238 titles, including 65 Slams. His lone Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2016 ended in a straight-sets loss to Andy Murray, but his journey included 10 major quarterfinals or better, a testament to his resilience. Injuries, however, curtailed his prime, with a right quad tear, foot surgery, and other setbacks sidelining him for significant periods. Despite these challenges, Raonic’s serve, often clocking over 220 km/h, troubled even the elite. Djokovic himself remarked at the 2014 French Open, “When Raonic serves well, there is not much you can do,” while Nadal noted at the 2017 Australian Open, “If I’m not playing aggressive, then I am dead.”
Raonic’s insights also touched on the broader impact of the Big Three. He argued their dominance skewed expectations, making upsets by lower-ranked players seem more surprising than they were. “I think just three guys, to have three exemplary kind of legendary athletes in one sport, not even in one generation, period, but in one sport at the same time, you kind of messed with everybody’s expectation of what is normal,” he said. This perspective resonates as Djokovic, now 37 and the last active Big Three member, chases a 25th Slam, while Federer has retired and Nadal has stepped away after the Davis Cup.
For Raonic, now 34 and navigating a comeback after a two-year hiatus, the Djokovic challenge remains a defining memory. Their last encounter, a four-set battle at the 2021 Australian Open, saw Djokovic prevail en route to the title. As Raonic continues his journey, his reflections offer fans a window into the strategic genius of Djokovic, whose ability to confound and conquer left even the fiercest competitors in awe.
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