Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer: the ‘GOAT’ debate, career records, grand slam titles

The “big three” in men’s tennis – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer – are all safely through to the second round of the Australian Open. 

On Tuesday in Melbourne world No.1 and top seed Nadal cruised into the next round with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien. 

Spaniard Nadal said: “For me personally it has been a very positive start. What you want is to win in the first round and, if you can do it in straight sets, even better.”

Nadal will play Argentina’s Federico Delbonis or Portugal’s Joao Sousa next.

Djokovic, a seven-time winner in Melbourne, started his title defence with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday.

The Serbian second seed will play Japan’s Tatsuma Ito in round two on Wednesday (2.30am GMT estimated start time).

Swiss star Federer was also victorious on day one down under. The 20-time grand slam champion beat USA’s Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and will play Croatian Filip Krajinovic on Wednesday (9.15am GMT). 

Novak inspired by rivals 

Aiming for an eighth title in Melbourne, Djokovic says his rivalry with both Nadal and Federer have helped keep him motivated during his illustrious career.

The 32-year-old: “[My rivalry] with Roger and Rafa… is one of the motivations for me to still keep going at this age. 

“The three of us have inspired each other throughout our rivalries and careers to be better, to understand how we can overcome obstacles in the matchups. 

“I am more grateful today to be in the same era with these two guys than I was probably ten, 15 years ago [smiling]. 

“I think that definitely rivalries with them made me very, very strong, very resilient, and also very motivated that I am still today.”

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Australian Open and 2020 predictions

Younger players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev will aim to break the big three’s grand slam domination, but Tennis Pro Guru believes there’s still a gap between them and the “old grand trio”. 

“Now everybody will talk about Daniil Medvedev,” said Tennis Pro Guru. “Is he the one who can break into the ‘three men’ zone? Can he beat Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer? 

“Our answer is clear. His time will come but not in February 2020. Novak Djokovic will be again the winner of the Australian Open. Barring an unexpected injury, he will be prepared to beat anyone.”

Speaking to BBC Sport Tim Henman also backs seven-time winner Djokovic to continue his success in Melbourne. The British former player said: “I will go for Djokovic. I think his record is so good down under. He has got enough time for rest and recuperation that he is the man to beat.”

Federer ended 2019 without a slam but Australian legend Rod Laver believes the 38-year-old can win the first major of the year. Laver said: “He seems to be fine and that’s what counts. If you love the game as much as you do, that’s fine. I also give Roger a very good chance of winning the Australian Open again in Melbourne in January.”

Shikhar Sachdev of SportsKeeda doubts that Federer will win a slam in 2020, but also predicts that Nadal could win two and surpass Federer’s record of 20 major titles. 

Sachdev said: “While Federer is still a top contender, it does not look like he will win another slam in 2020. That means Nadal could finally equal and even break the record that he has been chasing throughout his career.”

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Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: how they compare

Novak Djokovic

• Nationality: Serbian 
• Age: 32
• World ranking: 2 
• Career titles: 77
• Grand slam titles: 16
  – 7 x Australian Open: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019
  – 1 x French Open: 2016
  – 5 x Wimbledon: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
  – 3 x US Open: 2011, 2015, 2018
• Big titles: 55 (16 grand slams; 5 ATP finals; 34 ATP Masters 1000 titles)

Rafael Nadal

• Nationality: Spanish 
• Age: 33
• World ranking: 1
• Career titles: 84
• Grand slam titles: 19
  – 1 x Australian Open: 2009
  – 12 x French Open: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
  – 2 x Wimbledon: 2008, 2010
  – 4 x US Open: 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019
• Big titles: 54 (19 grand slams; 35 ATP Masters 1000 titles)

Roger Federer

• Nationality: Swiss 
• Age: 38
• World ranking: 3
• Career titles: 103
• Grand slam titles: 20
  – 6 x Australian Open: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018
  – 1 x French Open: 2009
  – 8 x Wimbledon: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
  – 5 x US Open: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Big titles: 54 (20 grand slams; 6 ATP Finals; 28 ATP Masters 1000 titles)

2019 men’s singles grand slam winners 

• US Open: Rafael Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4  
• Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer 7-6 (7–5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3)
• French Open: Rafael Nadal beat Dominic Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1  
• Australian Open: Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6–3, 6–2, 6–3

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The big ‘GOAT’ debate is on

Who is, or who will be, the greatest of all time (GOAT) in men’s tennis? It’s a topic that has long been debated throughout the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic domination. 

After Nadal won his 19th major at the 2019 US Open, Ant Sharwood of 10 Daily said: “The bottom line might be that they’re all the greatest in their own way – which sounds like a cop-out, but isn’t. Because sometimes in both life and sport, there really is no singular answer. 

“Whatever your thoughts, there’s no doubt Nadal just edged a little closer to stand-alone GOAT.”

How fans of the ‘big three’ reacted to Nadal’s win

After Nadal’s victory in New York his supporters definitely believe that their favourite player is the GOAT.

Here we look at the reactions of tennis fans following the US Open…

Grand Slam %uD83C%uDFC6

20 R. Federer
19 R. Nadal
16 N. Djokovic

Grand Slam Meetings:

Nadal 10-3 Federer
Nadal 9-6 Djokovic

Rivalries that considered the Greatest.

Rafa Nadal Vs. Roger Federer
Rafa Nadal Vs. Novak Djokovic

Rafa Nadal, The Ultimate GOAT of Tennis %uD83D%uDC10%uD83C%uDFD3 pic.twitter.com/2dVTuKYgAg

— %u2663Otunba Of Sokoto%u2663 (@hassanshehu42) September 9, 2019

61 of the last 66 Grand Slams have featured at least one of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafa Nadal in the final.

55 of those have been won by one of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal.

GOAT era %uD83D%uDC10 pic.twitter.com/X9wwRjSqTY

— Coral (@Coral) September 9, 2019

People will tell you how great Federer is and his 20 grand slams well nadal is about to win his 19 th he’s 4 years younger
The real GOAT of tennis pic.twitter.com/BpsabSsSpj

— BOBBY FIRMINO %u2B50%uFE0F%u2B50%uFE0F%u2B50%uFE0F%u2B50%uFE0F%u2B50%uFE0F%u2B50%uFE0F (@NoLookBobby9) September 8, 2019

Yea that%u2019s not how this works. You will be forever be tied to Djoker. I%u2019ve never wavered from Fed… and of course Pete

— Joe Burke (@imJoeBurke) September 9, 2019

No. GOATs get voted sportsmanship awards every year by peers. And do not resort to gamesmanship to win at any cost. Nadal will never be Federer.

— The I in THIEM (sometimes the Y Y Y of Kyrgios) (@oscwi1) September 9, 2019

Most Men’s Grand Slam titles in the Open Era.

20 – 38 year old Federer
19 – 33 year old Nadal
16 – 32 year old Djokovic

The GOAT %uD83D%uDC10 debate should start after all these 3 legends retire. One should also consider W/L records amongst each other. #USOpen

— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) September 9, 2019

Well Nadal is 1 Grand Slam from tying Federer. The race to be the GOAT of tennis is heating up. Weird how they are so accomplished when their best surfaces (clay and grass) are 1/4 grand slams each. If 2/4 were grass Fed would prob have 30; same for Nadal and clay (or more)

— Gary Girod (@girod_gary) September 9, 2019

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