Federer and Nadal Changed the Locker Room Culture," Says Chang
Michael Chang gave an interview to the Spanish media outlet Clay Tenis. According to him, if Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are developing a good relationship, it’s also thanks to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who were the first great rivals to get along well.
He stated: "Federer and Nadal changed the locker room culture, to be honest. The generation before me was very competitive and didn’t really talk to each other.
On the court, it’s business: you want to give your best and beat your opponent. Off the court, they were kind to everyone, whether you were world No. 2 or No. 100 in doubles.
Roger, Rafa, and even Novak are responsible for this shift. They treated you as equals and were genuinely kind.
I think this has carried over to the current generation because they have respect for everyone.
Roger and Rafael were products of a carefully choreographed PR assault on our common sense.
The guy who really made the difference is Novak.