Federer praises Djokovic and talks about his chances of winning the US Open
The Swiss tennis player acknowledged that Novak will always have a minimum of chances because of the legend he is, and expressed his admiration for his continued competition at 39 years old.
Roger Federer is present in New York and attended the press conference for the US Open 2026 this Monday, making countless headlines and sharing an extensive opinion on the possibility of Novak Djokovic winning his 25th Grand Slam in this tournament. With the absence of Jannik Sinner and a Carlos Alcaraz arriving with injury concerns, all eyes are on the Serb, who also arrives with some physical doubts.
Djokovic comes in a situation similar to that of Roland Garros. There, it was Carlos Alcaraz who was absent due to a wrist injury, and Sinner who lost in the second round. However, Joao Fonseca squandered a golden opportunity for the Serb in the third round. That said, on hard courts his chances multiply, and it was in New York where he achieved his last Grand Slam in 2023. Moreover, Novak is Novak, and as Federer says, as long as he is present in a major, he will be one of the favorites.
"I think whenever Novak enters a tournament, whether it's a Grand Slam or any other, he will have options. That is my opinion. I have enormous respect for Novak. I've seen what he can do, not just once, but many times. He has done it everywhere and at the highest level. I always think that as long as he is in the draw, there is a possibility," he acknowledged. This comes from one of the greatest historical rivals of the Serb; a man who experienced the competitive spirit of Nole at its peak, and who knows perfectly what he is capable of.
Federer is amazed by Djokovic's longevity
Another topic the Swiss legend touched on was the longevity of Djokovic, who continues to reach the final rounds of Grand Slams at 39 years old against much younger players, setting an example of competitiveness that explains why he is the greatest tennis player of all time. It is true that he hardly plays tournaments throughout the year, and his performance in the Masters 1000 has been underwhelming, but in the majors, his level remains excellent.
"I think that is one of the reasons he keeps playing: because he truly believes he can still achieve it. I haven't seen the documentary yet. We played nearly 50 times on all surfaces and at the most important courts in the world. It was a pleasure to play against him. An incredible player, an extraordinary fighter. He evolved his game, became bigger, stronger, and better. It's amazing that he is still competing. I'm very impressed," he concluded, also referencing the documentary that was released about the Serb on August 20: 'Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter.'
Although there were moments when the relationship between Djokovic and Federer was not the best due to the fierce rivalry they maintained on the court and their very different personalities, it is true that time has calmed the waters, especially now that the Swiss is retired. Furthermore, it is always nice to hear a legend like Roger speaking in this way about one of his biggest rivals, as both made history and made this sport a better world.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Federer elogia a Djokovic y habla de sus opciones para ganar el US Open