Roger Federer said it is unexplainable what Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal has done to his career, but the Swiss Maestro admitted he would still have the same amount of titles with our without his rivals.
Federer have formed arguably the greatest rivalry in tennis history against the likes of Djokovic and Nadal, who have a combined 26 major titles in their record. Both Djokovic and Nadal have played a crucial part in Federer's success and have cost the Swiss many more majors. But Federer believes with or without the challenges given by Djokovic and Nadal, he would still have won the same amount of titles.
"I truly believe that if they wouldn't have been around, somebody else would have been around," Federer said, reports the Baseline. "Or maybe they wouldn't have pushed me to be so successful. I don't know how to explain it, but I think I still would have the same amount of titles with or without them."
Federer could have won nine more major titles if it weren't for Djokovic and Nadal. The 35-year-old Swiss lost three final round Grand Slam events against the Serb, most recently in last year's US Open. Against Nadal, Federer had six chances of adding majors to his record, but the King of Clay got the better of him, mostly on the clay-courts of Roland Garros.
Federer, who currently ranks No. 16 in the ATP World Rankings, will have a chance to win another major when he returns to the Tour next year, but coming off a knee injury and Andy Murray and Djokovic dominating the tennis scene, it would be difficult for the Swiss to complete such feat.
Nevertheless, Federer is confident he would return to tennis action fully healed from his re-injured knee as he aims a comeback at the Australian Open next year.
"I have thought about that these few weeks-what'll it be like when I return...will I feel pressure," Federer said, reports Tennis. "I will have dropped a few rankings."
"But if I can train the way I am hoping [during the offseason], I'm thinking that I can quite rapidly rejoin."
Video courtesy: YouTube/Fed RF Maestro