Djokovic, 39, is back at the Swiss Indoors on a wild card, two weeks out from the Nitto ATP Finals and sitting 11th in the race to Turin, 90 points behind 10th-placed Alex de Minaur, according to the ATP’s preview. A title here would be his 103rd on tour, equal to Federer’s career total. The Swiss won his own 103rd and last at this same event in 2019.

Asked how his relationship with Federer had evolved over the years, Djokovic did not reach for sentiment.

“We never had any kind of off-court relationship. It was really always: rivals. And that’s what it is, really,” he said at the press conference, as reported by tennis365.

Djokovic praises Federer the player

Djokovic separated the absence of friendship from his view of Federer the champion, tying the comments to Federer’s induction this summer in Newport.

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“I always had incredible respect, and still do, for Roger. I congratulate him for the Hall of Fame, as well. If there is anybody that deserves that, it’s him,” Djokovic added, in the same answer carried by tennis365.

He also credited Federer with paving the way for the younger generation of players.

Federer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the player category on 29 August, the Hall of Fame confirmed in its class of 2026 announcement.

A 50-match ledger

The two faced each other 50 times between 2006 and 2020, one of the most-played rivalries of the Open Era. Djokovic finished ahead 27-23 overall, 13-6 in finals and 11-6 at the majors, per the ATP’s own tally of the series. Their last meeting was the 2020 Australian Open semi-final, which Djokovic won.

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Federer and Rafael Nadal have painted a very different picture of their own bond, built on charity exhibitions, mutual tributes and the hand-in-hand bench shot at Federer’s farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup, where Djokovic was also on Team Europe.

Djokovic’s margaritas-on-the-beach line

Djokovic has previously said he hopes to sit down with both one day. At Wimbledon, he said his full reflection would come “probably when I set the racket aside and I sip a margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything,” in comments carried by AOL.

Djokovic opens his Basel campaign later this week.

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