Ivan Ljubicic on Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic: Impact and Difficulty

Ivan Ljubicic, former coach to Roger Federer from 2016 to 2022, has offered insights into the contrasting challenges posed by the “Big Three” – Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic – and weighed in on the ongoing debate about the greatest of all time (GOAT). Although acknowledging Novak Djokovic’s superior Grand Slam title count, Ljubicic believes the impact of Federer and Nadal on the game is greater.

The GOAT Debate: Impact vs. Titles

Speaking on the Off Court with Greg podcast, Ljubicic stated, “They are different. It is very difficult to say who is better. Obviously, Novak won more, but for me, the impact that Roger had on the match, and Rafa at different times, is enormous. Maybe greater than Novak’s.” Tennis365

Federer: A Tactical Enigma

Ljubicic highlighted the tactical complexity of facing Roger Federer at his peak. “Against Roger it was complicated, because he always did something different. I remember that I played against him four times in a row in 2005, the final in Doha, Rotterdam and Miami, and he always presented a different duel,” he explained. Tennis365

Nadal: Comfort Within the Challenge

Interestingly, Ljubicic revealed a sense of relative comfort when competing against Rafael Nadal. “Against Rafa, he was very far back, so he lets you play as you wish, especially in my service games. I felt quite comfortable. I lost many more times than I won, but I beat him twice, and I always felt that if I played well, I would have my opportunities. I never felt like it was impossible,” he detailed. Tennis365

Djokovic: The Unbreakable Force

However, Ljubicic identified Novak Djokovic as his most formidable opponent when the Serbian was in top form. “When Novak was on a roll, it was perhaps the most difficult for me, because he had a great serve and depended on a lot of free points; with him, it was just not possible,” he concluded. Tennis365

Federer’s Backhand and Nadal’s Slice

Ljubicic, who coached Federer between 2016 and 2022, too discussed specific tactical adjustments made during his time with the Swiss maestro. He emphasized the importance of Federer hitting a flat backhand against Nadal, rather than a sliced one. “One thing is true is that we all knew that against Rafa you cannot slice,” Ljubicic said on the Off Court with Greg podcast. Tennishead

He explained that working on this aspect of Federer’s game also had positive effects on other areas of his play. Tennishead

A Traumatic Experience on Clay

Ljubicic also recalled the difficulty of facing Nadal on clay at Roland Garros, describing it as a “traumatic experience.” He experienced straight-set defeats against Nadal at the French Open in 2006 and 2011, managing only two wins against the Spaniard, both on non-clay surfaces. Mirror