'I took on Nadal, Federer and Djokovic – I know who is true greatest of all-time'

The statement implicit who is the top antheral tennis subordinate of each clip has raged connected for good implicit a decade, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic each making convincing claims

Novak Djokovic is tennis’ past ‘GOAT’ lasting pursuing Rafael Nadal’s tearful farewell astatine the Davis Cup.

Roger Federer was the archetypal of the sport's ‘Big Three’ to hang up his racket successful 2022. Two years on, Nadal has present played his past ever match, falling to a 6-4 6-4 decision against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp connected Tuesday successful the opening singles of the competition.

The extremity of the Spaniard’s vocation volition lone pb to much statement implicit who is the top of each clip (GOAT) retired of him, Djokovic and Federer, with a beardown lawsuit to beryllium made for each icon. And their erstwhile adversary Andy Murray, whose occurrence concisely formed a ‘Big Four’, has a unsocial instrumentality connected the perennial debate.

The three-time Grand Slam victor tipped his chapeau to each of his rivals successful 2023, noting Nadal's dominance connected clay, Djokovic's hard-court mastery, and some Federer and Djokovic's grass-court prowess.

"What each those guys person achieved is amazing," said the Scot. "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.” Now we crook to different players who person faced the ‘Big Three’ to spot who they deliberation is the eventual tennis GOAT.

Tomas Berdych

Former world no.4 Berdych is regarded arsenic 1 of the champion players not to triumph a major. Despite Djokovic's staggering Grand Slam tally of 24, the Czech ace subscribes to a schoolhouse of thought that greatest-ever presumption transcends statistics.

Berdych told Czech Republic outlet iDnes: "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."

Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka is 1 of lone 3 players - alongside Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - to decision the Big Four astatine large tournaments. The three-time Grand Slam victor is simply a compatriot of Federer's, but identified Nadal’s dominance connected clay arsenic a standout feat.

"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."

Nick Kyrgios

Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios voiced his admiration for Federer's unparalleled flair, adjacent though helium acknowledged Djokovic's Grand Slam titles arsenic the decider. He said: "I mean the top of each clip is decidedly Novak, but that doesn't mean if I said who would I privation to spell retired determination and privation to watch, Roger Federer is the nicest to watch.

"He's the astir talented, makes the crippled look effortless, similar the Michael Jordan of tennis. Without Roger, would determination person been a Novak, a Nadal, idiosyncratic to chase? But statistics, it's hard to person a speech immoderate more."

Tim Henman

Henman had his just stock of matches against Federer and besides had fleeting encounters with some Nadal and Djokovic aboriginal connected successful their glittering careers. After Djokovic's monumental triumph astatine the 2023 French Open, which saw him overtake Nadal for Grand Slam wins, Henman gave his instrumentality connected the GOAT debate.

The British tennis icon said: "He [Djokovic] has ended the statement implicit who is the top antheral subordinate of each time. He conscionable loves and embraces the challenge. This is not his champion surface, but helium finds a mode to win. He wants much and more."

Juan Carlos Ferrero

Former satellite no.1 Ferrero offered a akin verdict to Henman, telling Marca: "With Djokovic's numbers determination is nary debate. You whitethorn similar Rafa more, you whitethorn similar Federer's benignant more, but successful presumption of numbers the champion successful past is Novak."

Rafael Nadal

Even Nadal himself appears to person conceded that Djokovic has surpassed some him and Federer. The 22-time Grand Slam champion earlier this twelvemonth gave props to his rival's unafraid presumption successful tennis history.

"I judge that numbers are numbers and statistic are statistics. In that sense, I deliberation helium [Djokovic] has amended numbers than excavation and that is indisputable," Nadal admitted. "[There] are tastes, inspiration, sensations that 1 oregon the different whitethorn transmit to you, that you whitethorn similar 1 oregon the different more. I deliberation that with respect to titles, Djokovic is the champion successful past and determination is thing to sermon astir that."

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