Former tennis star Marcos Baghdatis has made a startling revelation about the legendary 'Big Three', identifying Novak Djokovic as the only player who made him feel completely outmatched throughout his 16-year professional career.
The Cypriot, who retired in 2019, faced Djokovic eight times between 2007 and 2015 without ever securing a victory, creating what he describes as a unique psychological challenge he never experienced against either Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer.
The Unbreakable Djokovic Record
While Baghdatis managed to defeat both Nadal and Federer during his memorable 2010 season - becoming the only player to beat both while they held the world number one ranking - Djokovic remained an insurmountable obstacle. Their encounters included a particularly gruelling five-hour Wimbledon quarter-final that tested both players' limits.
"I would pick Novak Djokovic, just because of the reason that I never beat him," Baghdatis told Tennis365, acknowledging the difficulty in choosing between the three legends. "It's very hard to pick between them."
The Lesson at Indian Wells
Baghdatis particularly remembers their final meeting at Indian Wells a decade ago, where Djokovic delivered what the Cypriot describes as "a lesson" in a decisive 6-1, 6-3 victory.
"I came off the court, and I felt the guy gave me a lesson, and I never felt like that with another player," Baghdatis recalled. "I never felt like that with Roger or with Rafa. Even when I was younger, and I played Roger, I always felt like; 'Next time I can beat him'. I'd always felt that. But with Novak it was... I didn't have that feeling, especially after that match."
No Solution Against Djokovic
In earlier comments to Tennishead this year, Baghdatis elaborated on the psychological challenge Djokovic presented, describing how competing against the 'Big Four' including Andy Murray "kind of destroyed my career!"
He explained the fundamental difference he felt between Djokovic and the other legends: "When I played against him, you felt that there was no solution. You tried to open a door, but he always closed it. With Rafa and Roger, they always kept the door open, but found a way to close it at the most important moment."
Despite the competitive challenges, Baghdatis expressed gratitude for having played in such a remarkable era, calling it "a privilege to be able to share the court with some of the greatest players in the world that ever played the game."
The mutual respect between the players was evident when Djokovic paid tribute to Baghdatis upon his retirement, posting on his Instagram story: "Respect for everything you've done for your sport. Thank you for bringing lots of joy and positive energy on court with your smile."
