Rafael Nadal has accepted Novak Djokovic will win the most Grand Slams
Tennis sensations Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer all have a massive 20 Grand Slam wins to their names – but who will end their career with the most?
Spanish-born Nadal has revealed that he thinks Djokovic will win more than him to become the most successful Grand Slam singles player, and he’s accepted that.
The Serbian is currently the only player out of the three who isn’t plagued with injury which is why Nadal has conceded that the nine-time Australian Open winner will eventually come out on top.
“Djokovic is best positioned to be the (men’s) player with the most Grand Slams,” the world No 6 told Vamos on Movistar+.
“You don’t have to fool yourself – Federer is where he is and I am where I am – however Djokovic is playing well and in a good moment.
“That is the reality and you can’t ignore it – we don’t know what is going to happen in nine months’ time, but he is the favourite right now.”
La Next Gen, los Grand Slams…
La entrevista de @RafaelNadal en #NoticiasVamos. pic.twitter.com/5RgQEOc43G— #Vamos de Movistar+ (@vamos) December 1, 2021
Federer only went under the knife for knee surgery in August but he is expected to be back playing in mid-2022, with his last major victory being at the Australian Open in 2018.
And Nadal has only played at two major competitions since his French Open win last year – even getting beaten by Djokovic at Roland-Garros in the semi-finals this year.
It could be said that the Big Three have already peaked in their careers, but so far no one has really come close to emulating their success and consistency.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Danill Medvedev have been hailed as future stars to take over from the legendary trio, but Nadal believes they are part of the “current generation”.
“They are no longer the Next Gen, we do not have to make it eternal,” the 13-time French Open winner said.
“Player like Medvedev, Zverev or Tsitsipas have already passed that stage of the Next Gen, they are the current generation, the present.”
Only time will tell if Djokovic will end his career with the most Grand Slams, however it is uncertain whether he’ll even be flying out to Australia for the first major competition of the 2022 season to add to his tally due to questions around his vaccination status.
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