Former world No 12 reveals why he preferred to play Rafael Nadal over the rest of the ‘Big 4’
Feliciano Lopez has admitted that he felt more ‘comfortable’ playing against Rafael Nadal than Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
The former world No 12 was a veteran of the ATP Tour, having turned professional in 1997 and competing until mid-2023. Overall, he lifted seven singles trophies and was victorious in over 500 matches – becoming the 54th male singles player to have reached the latter milestone.
As such, Lopez had to make a living in an era which was defined by all-time greats, facing Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray on 48 occasions.
After having faced each member for a minimum of 10 matches, the Spaniard has a strong opinion about who he thinks is more ‘comfortable’ to play against.
“Andy [Murray], for example, I hated [playing] him,” stated Lopez, in an interview with the Punto de Break podcast.
“Because Andy has two things, one very intelligent and two is very skilful. So he understood my game very well, my slice, my serve, my changes of speed, a little bit of my changes of rhythm that most players were uncomfortable with, but he wasn’t. I didn’t like playing with him very much then.”
Overall, Lopez faced the Brit on 11 occasions, with the latter prevailing in all the clashes, including four at Grand-Slam level, losing just two sets overall.
“With Rafa, it felt on fast indoor or fast courts, or grass, sometimes the game was even in the sense that he was not a player who would overwhelm you with his way of playing,” the Spaniard analysed.
“He depended a little more on me. Obviously, most of the time he ends up winning the game, because he is better, much better than me, but I felt that if I played well that day, I had my chances of beating him.
“In fact, it’s the (only) one I’ve won against them.”
Indeed, Lopez bested the 22-time Grand Slam champion on four occasions.
Their first clash occurred on the indoor carpet of Basel in 2003, when Nadal was just 17 years old – ultimately won by Lopez 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4).
The former world No 12 lost the next five meetings, gaining a second victory at the ATP 500 event in Queen’s.
Lopez was also victorious in two of their final three clashes, at the Shanghai Masters in 2014 and the subsequent year at the Cincinnati Masters.
“I’ve played Federer a million times. I’ve played great matches, I’ve never managed to beat him, but I’ve brought out the best in me,” stated the 43 year old.
“I really liked playing with him. We’ve known each other since we were kids, we played as juniors, so of course he was an infinitely better player than me, but when I was good I could play him as an equal.
“Not in every game we’ve played, because there have been many, I have played him as an equal in some.”
Lopez faced off against the Swiss maestro 13 times, claiming four sets in total.
Their most competitive match was in 2011 at the Madrid Masters, where Lopez lost a nail-biting third-set tiebreak after holding a match point of his own.
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“And then Djokovic has one thing and that is that you don’t know where to hit the ball,” added Lopez.
“Because with Rafa at a certain point I say, ‘Well, I serve and when I play at the baseline I take my forehand and look for his backhand and hit hard and I am aggressive’. With Djokovic, you never felt like the point was in your hand.
“The control of the match was always on the other side, because forehand and backhand, there’s not space, you don’t know where to hit the bal.
“He serves, when he serves, he dominates, but when he served, I served, and I was one of the best servers on the circuit, even so I felt extra pressure, because Federer returned a lot, Rafa was very good, but you were given much more time.
“For example, Rafa was much further back and Federer, Djokovic and Murray were returning on the line. So that put extra pressure on me, saying, if I don’t serve well the ball will come to me quickly. And that made me feel…When they took time away from me, that’s when I felt most uncomfortable, and that’s what Federer and Djokovic did very well was that, they took time away from you, that is the ball from the moment you hit it until it came back to you, came to you.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion clashed with Lopez on 10 occasions, losing just one – via a retirement after losing the first set 6-3 in Dubai in 2016.
Prior to the retirement, Djokovic had won seven consecutive matches.
