Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: ‘GOAT’ battle continues at Roland-Garros
French Open tennis grand slam
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will go head-to-head in the semi-finals of the French Open grand slam on Friday 7 June in Paris.
Second seed Nadal reached the final four with a straight sets victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori while third seed Federer beat fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in four sets.
Defending champion Nadal, an 11-time winner at Roland-Garros, is pleased with the way he is playing so far in the tournament.
The Spaniard said: “I have been playing well, very solid. Winning good matches against tough opponents. I am happy with that.
“Of course, after having Roger in front in the semi-finals is an extra thing. We shared the most important moments of our careers together on court, facing each other. So [it’ll] be another episode, and [I’m] happy for that and excited. It will be [a] special moment, and let’s try to be ready for it.”
Federer is competing in France for the first time in four years and the 20-time grand slam champion is also looking forward to facing a great rival on the clay.
The 2009 French Open champion said: “Now I have the match with Rafa, and I’m clearly excited. I hope I can recover well in the next couple days, which I’m sure I will, and I’ll give it my best shot on Friday.”
The Nadal vs. Federer semi-final is expected to start on Friday at 11.50am (BST).
Top four seeds make the semis
World No.1 and top seed Novak Djokovic is also through to the French Open semi-finals after he beat Alexander Zverev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the last eight.
Standing in Djokovic’s way of facing Nadal or Federer in Sunday’s final is Dominic Thiem, last year’s runner-up and fourth seed.
The four top seeds are all through to the semi-finals, while the BBC reports that it’s also the first time since the French Open in 2012 that Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have all made it through to a grand slam semi-final.
Djokovic said: “We have still been enjoying some of our best tennis in biggest events. That’s great to see.
“Nadal and Federer are arguably the biggest legends of this sport and most successful players ever, so to be in the mix with them and have a successful career myself is quite a great feeling.”
Reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion Djokovic is looking to make history by becoming the first male tennis player in the Open era to win four straight major titles on two occasions.
“The presence of history-making is stronger than ever right now in my career,” Djokovic added. “I think the longer I play or the further I go in my career, the sense of history-making is only getting stronger. That’s one of the greatest motivations I have.”
The Djokovic vs. Thiem semi-final on Friday 7 June is expected to start at 1.50pm (BST). Although rain could delay the schedule.
Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: how they compare
Novak Djokovic
- Nationality: Serbian
- Age: 31
- World ranking: 1
- Career titles: 74
- Grand slam titles: 15 (Australian Open 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019; French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018; US Open 2011, 2015, 2018)
- Big titles: 53 (15 grand slams; 5 ATP finals; 33 ATP Masters 1000 titles)
Rafael Nadal
- Nationality: Spanish
- Age: 32
- World ranking: 2
- Career titles: 81
- Grand slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010, 2013, 2017)
- Big titles: 50 (17 grand slams; 34 ATP Masters 1000 titles)
Roger Federer
- Nationality: Swiss
- Age: 37
- World ranking: 3
- ATP career titles: 101
- Grand slam titles: 20 (Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- Big titles: 54 (20 grand slams; 6 ATP Finals; 28 ATP Masters 1000 titles)
Most ATP Masters 1000 titles
- 1. Rafael Nadal 34
- 2. Novak Djokovic 33
- 3. Roger Federer 28
- 4. Andre Agassi 17
- 5. Andy Murray 14
On why the GOAT debate will not stop once we know who has finished with the most grand-slam titles https://t.co/LPe95OxtBP
— Charlie Eccleshare (@CDEccleshare) January 28, 2019
Grand slam records and the GOAT debate
Djokovic’s victory in Australia earlier this year again opened the debate on which of the three will win the most slams and who will end up as the GOAT?
In a poll on its website Sky Sports asked the question: who will finish their career with the most grand slam titles? After nearly 15,000 votes cast, Federer had 55% of the vote, Djokovic had 33% and Nadal had 12%.
Four-time grand slam champion Kim Clijsters said on BBC Radio 5 live: “I definitely think Novak could beat Roger’s grand slam record. It will be interesting to see how he manages to maintain this level. The amount of focus and discipline he has put in to get to this level has to be extremely high and when he gets to this stage, he is then capable of showing the whole world.”
Australian tennis legend Laver, an 11-time grand slam winner, congratulated Djokovic on his victory in Melbourne and predicted that the Serbian can break even more records. Laver said: “I think Federer has maybe got another Wimbledon in him, but he is battling a little bit. His age and strokes are not quite the same as they were two years ago. But he is still a force to be fought with. When you look at the others, Novak and Rafa, I would think Novak will certainly. When you look at his age, and form winning the last two, I would say Djokovic can eclipse Roger.”
Speaking on Eurosport, Australian tennis icon Pat Cash said: “It’s not a popular discussion to say, is Novak the best of them all? It’s not popular. But you’ve got to face the facts, this guy might be the best of the lot of them. We can throw that out every time someone wins a championship that easily, but it’s a good conversation to have.”
Former world No.1 Mats Wilander, speaking in the Metro: “The next ten majors, I’d say eight of them will belong to either Rafa or Novak. One of the three always takes the opportunity to start winning again when another guy is out or not playing well. Obviously we’ve been very lucky. I’d be surprised if not Rafa or Novak reaches 20. The question is if Roger gets another two or three.”
In The Daily Telegraph, Charlie Eccleshare says that while Djokovic may well surpass Federer’s record, the debate on who will be the GOAT will be harder to decide. Eccleshare wrote: “To forecast definitively who will finish with the most majors is a fool’s game – as I know to my cost – but here is a prediction I am more confident of: in 20 years’ time the GOAT debate will be about far, far more than just grand slam titles.”
What tennis fans think on Twitter
I don%u2019t care what y%u2019all say..#Djokovic is the GOAT and the most complete player to ever exist. This doesn%u2019t take anything from any other player, it%u2019s just that when this guy is in his top form, he can beat anybody no matter how in-form they are.
— Ahmed El Badrawy (@Badrawyy) January 27, 2019
Rafa has played 20 GS less than Roger and has won only 3 less than him…
GS won (by Court Pace Index):
Nadal: 15-30 CPI: 11 GS (65%), 30-45 CPI: 6 GS (35%)
Djokovic: 15-30 CPI: 1 GS (7%), 30-45 CPI: 14 GS (93%)
Federer: 15-30 CPI: 1 GS (5%), 30-45 CPI: 19 GS (95%)#GOAT pic.twitter.com/hTWkGFwvHJ
— Vamos Rafa (@vamosRNvamos) January 28, 2019
Grand Slam Meetings:
Rafa Nadal 9-3 Roger Federer
Rafa Nadal 9-6 Novak DjokovicRivalries that considered Greatest.
Rafa Nadal Vs. Roger Federer
Rafa Nadal Vs. Novak DjokovicRafa Nadal, The Ultimate GOAT of Tennis %uD83D%uDC10%uD83C%uDFBE%uD83C%uDDEA%uD83C%uDDF8 pic.twitter.com/JZfulJ05m2
— SMٳ (@SMFutboI) January 27, 2019
Federer fans: Roger is the %uD83D%uDC10!!! Nadal fans : Rafa is the GOAT!!! DJOKOVIC : pic.twitter.com/2ZZbHkvH38
— Dylan (@dylansky007) January 27, 2019
Sampras was the greatest player of all time. Then Federer showed up. It seemed Federer’s career was done 5 years ago. But, no. He has established himself, without question as the GOAT. Nadal may get to 20 but, if he does, it will be due to The French Open. He’ll never be GOAT.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) January 27, 2019