Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic: Which Rivalry Is Best?

The past several seasons of tennis have seen domination from three phenomenal athletes. Since the 2005 French Open, all Grand Slams but one have been taken by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

Obviously, this three-pronged reign on top of the ATP rankings has lead to intense competition among these champions, mainly defined by the Federer/Nadal and Nadal/Djokovic rivalries.

Developing in the 2005-2006 seasons, the Federer/Nadal rivalry was entertaining from the start and has never ceased to impress tennis fans around the world. They have encountered each other eight times in Grand Slam finals, and have played a total of 27 matches.

Although Nadal has had the upper hand in this rivalry (18-9 against the Swiss legend), the intensity has never faltered upon their meetings. Ten of their matches have gone to the maximum number of sets (three or five, depending on the tournament), and even without considering scores, the quality of play between the two all-time greats has been a treat that we've devoured over and over again in recent seasons.

You simply can't deny the rich history and pure entertainment that this rivalry has provided, and until just recently, it was undoubtedly the best in tennis.

Then came along Novak Djokovic, a player who was forced to settle for number three until his breakout 2011 season. His quickly-emerging rivalry with Nadal is also becoming one of the best that the sport has to offer.

Nadal has led this rivalry so far, with a head-to-head record of 16-14. However, the tides have turned dramatically since Djoker's sudden and shocking success in 2011; the last match that Nadal took from the Serb was back in the 2010 ATP World Tour Finals. Since then, Djokovic has robbed him of three Grand Slam titles and won the past seven matchups. Quite an incredible feat, considering the fact that two of those matches were on clay, where the Spaniard generally dominates.

Based on the fantastic shows that they have put on for us this past year—including and especially their incredible Aussie Open final—it's hard to deny them the title of best tennis rivalry.

Is it fair to say that the Federer/Nadal rivalry, with its long history and legendary matches, is a step below another? It is still too early to know whether or not the Djokovic/Nadal battle will endure for as long and with the same intensity as its predecessor? For now, all we can do is savor every bit of talent that these three players are giving us.