Roger Federer not ready to declare Novak Djokovic the GOAT with Rafael Nadal still around

Roger Federer is not yet ready to declare Novak Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time (GOAT), especially with Rafael Nadal still around, but he does believe the Serbian’s latest “gigantic” accomplishment “could be sufficient” when all is said and done.

Many tennis fans, pundits and fellow players declared Djokovic the GOAT after he became the outright men’s Grand Slam record holder with 23 majors on the back of winning his third title at Roland Garros earlier in June.

Djokovic, of course, holds numerous other records as is the only man to have won three Career Grand Slams and he is also currently enjoying a record-extending 389th week at the top of the ATP Rankings.

The Serbian is also the oldest man to win the French Open as he was 36 years and 20 days when he lifted the title – surpassing Nadal, who was 18 days younger when he won his final title in June 2022.

The world No 1 also remains on course to win a Calendar Grand Slam in 2023 with only Wimbledon and the US Open missing from this year’s collection.

However, others believe there is also a case for Nadal – who sits on 22 Grand Slams and has won a record 14 French Open crowns – being the greatest tennis player in history.

The Spaniard has achieved the Career Golden Slam as he won gold in the singles at the 2008 Beijing Games while he is also known as the King of Clay as he boasts an astonishing 474–45 (91%) win-loss record on the red dirt.

Federer himself is often still part of the conversation despite retiring at the age of 42 last year with “only” 20 majors to his name.

The Swiss Maestro is considered the grass-court king with a record eight Wimbledon titles and has a 192–29 (87%) record on the surface while he also holds the record for most ATP Tour titles with 103 – just six short of Jimmy Connors’ Open Era 109 trophies.

Federer attended a special “Roger Federer Day” at the Halle Open on Wednesday and after the celebrations he was asked if Djokovic was the GOAT following his recent achievements and replied: “What is better? Winning Wimbledon at 17 like [Boris] Becker or Paris at 36 like Novak? I don’t know.

“What he has achieved is absolutely gigantic. It could be sufficient. But I think as long as Rafa is still playing, too, you can’t answer that definitively yet.”

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