Roger Federer pays Nadal ultimate compliment

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It was a remark that one would have had to wait until hell froze over to hear John McEnroe or Jimmy Connors utter about the other, and then it would only be with a gun pointed at their head: "I'm going to make it as hard as possible for somebody to pass me, but I would at least wish if I wasn't No 1 Nadal would be." For those who believe that the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is just too cosy, this admission from the world's No 1 to The Sunday Telegraph will provide ample confirmation.

Federer felt the Serb, who beat him for the first time in the final of the Montreal Masters last month, first had to serve his Grand Slam apprenticeship before being considered a possible heir. Federer even put Andy Roddick ahead of the world No 3 in his personal pecking order, although admitted that this US Open was "make or break time" for the one-Slam American wonder.

There had been rumours that the garrulous Djokovic had got under Federer's skin a little after announcing in classic Cassius Clay-speak before their fourth-round meeting in the Australian Open that the champion was "going down". To be fair to Djokovic it was with tongue firmly in cheek. When Federer duly put him in his place, some said, it was by way of admonishment, but Federer denied there was any ill feeling between the two.

"We had one little issue where I thought he was faking injury in a Davis Cup tie against us," said the Swiss. "His father got very vocal, but later, in Madrid, Novak came and excused himself for what happened so since then everything is OK. We'll have to see how he handles Grand Slams because this is what it's all about.

"He's always been a bit outspoken because he does talk a lot and that's OK, the guy's confident, you want to see that from young players. I remember I talked differently when I was a young player. I also thought I could rip up trees. My tone has changed. It's good he goes through that phase, I like it."

U OVOM TEXTU SE JASNO VIDI KOLIKI JE NOLE ZULJ FEDERERU I KOLIKO GA OVAJ NE PODNOSI!