Published November 20, 2024 4:16pm Updated November 20, 2024 4:16pm
There are not galore players who tin accidental they person defeated each 3 of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer successful Grand Slam matches.
Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga are the lone 4 tennis stars to person achieved that singular feat.
Nadal, Djokovic and Federer – the Big Three – are wide regarded arsenic being among the top tennis players of each clip and dominated the athletics for 2 decades.
While Federer retired successful 2022 and Djokovic is inactive active, Nadal entered status connected Tuesday, which has erstwhile again brought up the GOAT debate.
Federer finished his vocation with 20 large titles, portion Nadal hung up his racket with 22 and Djokovic presently sits connected 24 up of the 2025 season.
But who is genuinely the top subordinate of each clip crossed the past of nonrecreational men’s tennis? Here’s what the experts had to say…
Stan Wawrinka
As antecedently mentioned, Wawrinka is 1 of lone 4 players to person beaten the full Big Three successful matches played astatine large tournaments.
Given helium is Swiss, 1 would presume Wawrinka to prime Federer arsenic his GOAT, but helium really thinks Nadal is the toughest subordinate to beat.
‘They are antithetic personalities and players,’ Wawrinka said. ‘If we’re conscionable talking astir the game, for maine Roger Federer it’s truly talent, easiness and touch. Rafael Nadal, it’s strength, powerfulness and Novak Djokovic is simply a spot of perfection.
‘It’s existent that erstwhile you play Rafa successful the Roland Garros final, for maine it’s 1 of the astir hard challenges astir what I’ve been capable to acquisition successful my career.’
Tomas Berdych
Berdych believes that Federer has near the ‘biggest mark’ connected tennis contempt the information that Djokovic has ended up with 4 much large titles.
Speaking to Czech outlet iDnes, the erstwhile satellite No.4 said: ‘Those who privation to comparison the champion by numbers volition find arguments for antithetic options.
‘The fig of Grand Slams whitethorn beryllium the astir nonsubjective measure, but determination are athletes who person near a large mark.
‘I deliberation Roger volition permission a bigger people than Djokovic. I deliberation helium is simply a bigger icon than Nadal. Perhaps, due to the fact that helium started this large era. What helium did for tennis cannot beryllium surpassed by immoderate result.’
Andy Murray
Murray says that Djokovic is the GOAT erstwhile it comes to Grand Slam titles but has hinted that helium would really prime Federer oregon Nadal overall, insisting the statement is much ‘nuanced’ than the magnitude of trophies won.
‘What each those guys person achieved is amazing,’ Murray said. ‘If you conscionable spell connected Grand Slam titles, past you’d person to springiness that to Novak but for me, it’s conscionable somewhat much nuanced than that.’
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Tsonga is adamant that Djokovic is the top subordinate of each clip successful nonrecreational men’s tennis.
‘The GOAT is Djokovic,’Tsonga told Le Republicain Lorrain. ‘And I deliberation helium tin spell for 25, 26, 27… Maybe 28 Grand Slam tournaments. You ne'er know.’
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