Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have delighted fans for a decade and a half, creating one of the most spectacular eras in the history of the sport. Not only did the Big 3 play in the same era, they completely rewrote the record book.
Their continued successes and the splendid battles they forged have fueled the debate as to the greatest ever. Federer held the Grand Slam record for many years, as well as being the most loved player by fans. The Swiss’ career ended in September last year, thanks to a serious problem with his right knee.
The 41-year-old from Basel had to cede most of his records to Nadal and Djokovic, who are currently tied at the top of the all-time Grand Slam rankings (both at 22). The Serbian star player also holds the record for weeks at the top of the world rankings and is back on top after clinching his 10th Australian Open a few weeks ago.
Wawrinka on the GOAT debate
Author of a remarkable outing on French tennis, Stanislas Wawrinka also gave his opinion on the goat’s sulfurous debate during his visit to the “Super Moscato Show” on RMC. And according to him, the Lausannois had been convinced for a while that Novak Djokovic has exceeded Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in terms of statistics and records.
“Let’s go on the goat, I have no problem saying things and saying what I think. It all depends on what we are looking for in this list, quite simply. I think it’s hard to talk about athletes who are still playing. It’s always better to make a list when the players have stopped and have finished their career.
Of course, if we talk about pure results and pure victories, Novak will be in front of the other two. I have been convinced of it for years and in my opinion that is what will happen. They are so lucky and this unluckiness of having been in the same generation and at the same time and they marked the history of tennis in a different way the three,” replied the triple winner in Grand Slam, opposed to Richard Gasquet This Wednesday in the round of 16 in Marseille.
The founder of TennisAbstract, statistical analyst Jeff Sackmann, remarked that the differences between the two legends of the sport were negligible. “They are pretty small margins. I mean, 30-29, and 23 Slams to 22 to 20 or whatever we are at , at any given time,” he said on the Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis podcast.