"The best is Djokovic, but I always had most difficulty with Nadal" - Thomaz Bellucci opines on GOAT debate, highlights challenge of facing Djokovic

Former Top-25 player Thomaz Bellucci, who once took a 6-0 set off Novak Djokovic, believes the Serbian great is the best among the Big 3 of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Djokovic. However, Bellucci found Nadal to be the toughest opponent he faced.

Bellucci also looked back on his eventful 2016 Italian Open match against the Serb, which he lost despite 'bageling' the now 22-time Grand Slam champion in the first set.

Bellucci played against the Serb as well as fellow 22-time Major winner Nadal six times each, and Federer on two occasions throughout the course of his career. The Brazilian was unable to record a single win against either of the three tennis legends. He recently shared his views on the debate of who is the best among the three.

"For me, the best is Djokovic. But the one I always had the most difficulty with was Nadal, because of my style of play,'' Thomaz Bellucci told ESPN.

He further stressed the challenge posed by Djokovic in their Italian Open fourth-round contest, highlighting how he turned things around despite going down 0-6, unlike most other players who succumb to the pressure in similar situations. Bellucci said that he was playing very well, but Djokovic managed to "pull the rabbit out of the hat."

In that regard, he believes the likes of the Big 3 have stood out from the rest of the tour throughout their careers.

''I was having a really good day, feeling really good. And sometimes when you're having a good day, it seems like the other guy starts playing worse, because then he says: 'Damn, this guy is playing well'. But then he manages to pull the rabbit out of the hat. He starts doing other things in the game," Bellucci explained.

"That's why these guys are out of line. They start to play better and I couldn't keep it, it's hard," he added.

Bellucci retired from professional tennis only recently at the Rio Open in February.

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Novak Djokovic withdraws from Miami Open after not receiving exemption to enter the US

The Serbian star last competed at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Novak Djokovic did not receive a special exemption to enter the United States as an unvaccinated foreigner in time for the Miami Open starting on Monday and withdrew from the tournament earlier this week. He missed Indian Wells for the same reason, meaning that he has now missed the Sunshine Double for two years in a row. The current world No. 1 will now be seen on the court for the claycourt season, with his comeback event expected to be the Monte Carlo Masters next month.

The Serb's top spot in the ATP rankings is under serious threat as world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz stands within one win of regaining the world No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz will become the new No. 1 if he beats Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's Indian Wells final. He will then hold on to the top spot only if he defends his Miami Open title.