In the world of tennis, the debate surrounding who is the greatest player of all time has long been a topic of conversation. With a vast array of superstar players throughout the years, it is a difficult decision to make. Although an impressive list of players has competed at the highest level of play, three stand out from the rest – Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.
The trio has an incredible 63 Grand Slams between them. Nadal leads the way with 22 with Serbian superstar Djokovic just one behind him. Federer, who retired last year after an illustrious 24-year career, is one further back.
With the Australian Open, which kicks off the 2023 tennis season, just around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to try and determine the GOAT once and for all. Djokovic and Nadal look set to do battle for the trophy once again down under, and online bookmaker Bovada, which provides tennis betting odds and outrights, has made the Serbian the favourite for success.
But which, if either of them, is the greatest?
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal was born in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, in 1986. The Spaniard leads the way when it comes to the number of Grand Slams won and he was also the first male tennis player to win all four Grand Slam titles at least twice. His success comes from his signature style of play – a combination of strength, perseverance, and a powerful forehand.
Some of his most notable successes include winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning the French Open an unbelievable 14 times, and winning the ATP Masters 1000 series thirty-six times, two behind Djokovic.
Nadal is renowned for his skill on the court and is often referred to as “the king of clay”. He is also considered one of the greatest players of all time and has been named the GQ Sportsman of the Year twice.
In his own words, “I think I still have more room to improve, and I will try to do that every day.” If he can beat Djokovic down under next month, he may cement his legacy as the greatest once and for all.
Roger Federer
Throughout the 2000s, many thought that no one would come close to Roger Federer in the greatest of all-time debate. His 20 Grand Slam titles once made him the most successful male tennis player of all time, prior to the arrival of his two younger rivals.
Federer is known for his impressive control of the ball and his versatile playing style, as well as his style and grace. He still holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at number one in the ATP rankings. Federer has won Wimbledon a record eight times and is also the only player to have reached the finals of all four Grand Slams in the same year (2006).
It was thought that the Swiss superman couldn’t be considered the GOAT unless he won all four majors, an achievement he finally completed when he won his first and only French Open back in 2009 when he defeated Robin Söderling in straight sets.
The recently retired star also enjoyed a renaissance in the twilight years of his career when he won back-to-back Australian Opens in 2017 & 2018, as well as Wimbledon in 2017. The latest of those victories came at the age of 37, making him the the oldest man to win a major singles title since Ken Rosewall in 1972.
When asked about his success, Federer said, “I think it all comes down to hard work and dedication. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, anything is possible.”
Novak Djokovic
The final contender in the GOAT debate is Novak Djokovic. With 21 Grand Slam titles and six ATP Tour Finals titles, he is the most successful player on the tour. Djokovic is known for his aggressive playing style and is renowned for his mental toughness.
Some of Djovokic’s most notable successes include winning the Australian Open a record nine times and winning Wimbledon seven times, including the most recent tournament in 2022 when he defeated Nick Kyrgios in a blockbuster final back in July.
With the Serb now being 35 years old, one year younger than Nadal, it’s thought that whoever picks up more Grand Slam titles out of the pair in the next few years will go down in history as the greatest.
In his own words, “I believe that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.”
Conclusion
Each of these players has achieved remarkable success and has left an indelible mark on the sport of tennis. Unfortunately, we will have to take Federer out of the question, however. The 42-year-old is an icon and will go down in history, but while Djokovic and Nadal have had to battle each other, as well as Federer and Andy Murray to pick up their titles, Federer was facing much lesser opposition in his earlier years.
That leaves just Djokovic and Nadal, and with both of their careers drawing to a close, it will be interesting to see which one of them can leave no doubt as to who is the undisputed GOAT.
