Rafael Nadal settles GOAT debate with ‘best in history’ remark on Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal is unquestionably one of the greatest tennis players of all time. However, in his opinion, he is not the greatest athlete of all time.
Nadal stated this week in an interview with the Spanish daily AS that Novak Djokovic is the tennis GOAT, citing the 37-year-old’s 24 Grand Slam championships.
Djokovic won his third major tournament of the year, the United States Open, earlier this month. His 22 major championships are two more than Nadal’s.
Injuries have derailed Nadal’s previous two seasons, and he has stated that 2024 will be his last year of tennis.
Despite his difficulties, he made it obvious that he is content with all his accomplishments, even though Djokovic has surpassed him for all-time Grand Slam titles.
“I said it when I was the one with the most Slams, I said it when we were tied, and I say it now that I am behind: I am not going to be the one who tries, through a personal struggle, to want to be what I am not,” Rafael said. “What is, is, and what is not, is not. I say this: I am very satisfied with everything that I have done.”
The discussion about the GOAT in men’s tennis has been as vociferously hot as any other in world sport in recent years, but it may not be long until two factions of fervent fans unwillingly fall on their swords.
Nadal has 92 career championships and has held the World No. 1 ranking for almost 209 weeks. Only four guys in tennis history have won two Career Slams: the southpaw. The King of Clay has also won five Davis Cup championships and 36 Masters titles.
Nadal has demonstrated that he deserves to be considered the best of all time. Rafa’s strong start to the 2022 season, with victories at the Australian Open and the French Open, gave him 22 Grand Slam titles, surpassing Federer’s 20 and tying him with Djokovic for now. Winning 14 French Open championships is an incredible feat that may never be matched.
Rafa had to retire from the 2022 Wimbledon semifinals due to an abdominal issue. This robbed supporters of their ideal final versus Djokovic. Nadal qualified for the 2022 US Open, where he lost in the fourth round against Frances Tiafoe.
2023 might be a watershed moment for Rafa. Rafa is out for the rest of 2023 after losing in the second round of the Australian Open due to a hip ailment that required surgery. While he stated that he would return for one last season in 2024, we will have to wait to see whether he can recuperate and regain his form.
