Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray have been the leading figures in men’s tennis during the 21st century.
Federer, Murray, and Nadal have all retired, collectively holding 44 Grand Slam titles.
The only one of the big four still active is Novak Djokovic, who seems to be nearing retirement himself.
Feliciano Lopez on His Preference for Playing Nadal
Lopez, a former world number 12 with 26 years on the ATP Tour before retiring in 2023, made comments on his encounters with the big four players. He discussed how each match was unique, particularly when playing against Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, and Federer.
Lopez expressed a dislike for competing against Murray, finding him challenging, while he felt more at ease when facing Nadal. He praised Djokovic for being a formidable opponent and noted the difficulties of serving against both Djokovic and Federer.
“I hated playing against Andy [Murray],” Lopez shared during the Punto de Break podcast. “He was very intelligent and skilled, and he understood my game better than most players.” On the other hand, he felt he had opportunities against Nadal, stating he had managed to win some matches despite Nadal’s superior skills.
Lopez’s Head-to-Head Record Against the Big Four
Throughout his career, Lopez faced members of the big four 48 times, managing to win only five matches in total. He did not secure any wins against Federer or Murray, but he succeeded against Nadal and Djokovic.
After retiring, Lopez now serves as the tournament director for the Madrid Open and the Davis Cup Finals. His first duty this year as tournament director for the Davis Cup will take place in Bologna, Italy.
