Rafael Nadal news: Greg Rusedski praises Rafa but believes Novak Djokovic will end as GOAT

Australian Open
Rafael Nadal

Greg Rusedski believes although Rafael Nadal has taken the lead with the most Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic will end up the greatest of all time.

On Sunday the Spaniard defeated Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the 2022 Australian Open final to claim a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park.

The Spaniard, who did not have a good season last year due to a left foot injury that kept him away from the court, underwent a minor procedure in September before returning to the practice court.

In preparation for the 2022 Australian Open, the 35-year-old announced he had tested positive for Covid-19 after playing in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.

The chances of competing Down Under were looking slimmer for the Spaniard who came into the tournament tied up with his long time rivals Roger Federer and Djokovic on 20 Grand Slam wins.

“Rafa could barely walk a few months ago. He had only previously won the Australian Open in 2009. Nobody would have pictured him coming to Melbourne, winning the tournament and getting to 21 slams before Novak Djokovic,” Rusedski told the New Age.

“But if you wanted someone to play for your life, Rafa would be that guy. He never gives up. He is superhuman from a mental point of view.”

The former British No 1 believes the road is still wide open for the ‘Big Three’ but stressed that nothing will be easy for all of them.

 

Rusedski added: “He has delivered on that promise, but I do still believe that this era in tennis will end with Novak being regarded as the greatest.

“The only place Roger is possibly going to be a threat is Wimbledon, and only then if his body allows him to get back, so I think it is basically now a two-horse race for the most slams. Rafa will be licking his lips and thinking, ‘No.22 is going to come in Paris,’ but Novak will be, ‘OK, I want to see you in Paris,’ because Wimbledon and the US Open should be his. We could easily end 2022 with them both on 22 titles, but I think since last year’s feats that Novak will go down as the greatest.”

Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal Roger Federer

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