“Rafa’s 13 French Open titles will push Novak and Roger to even greater heights,” says Former Wimbledon Champion

“Rafa’s 13 French Open titles will push Novak and Roger to even greater heights,” says Former Wimbledon Champion
Novak Djokovic (left), Rafael Nadal (center) and Roger Federer (right)

We are truly living in an unbelievable era, as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer motor on in their 30s on the quest for tennis greatness. All of them are on the race for the most major singles titles in history, with Nadal and Federer currently tied at 20 apiece. Now, former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli thinks that Nadal’s recent 13th Roland Garros trophy will spur on the other two of the Big 3 to achieve even greater heights.

Bartoli gave her views when she was one of the guests at the Match Points show, featured on the Tennis Majors website.

We have to wait until all three are retired: Bartoli

Marion Bartoli

Speaking on the question of the greatest-of-all-time, or GOAT, debate, Bartoli said, “Neither Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic have finished. We really have to wait till those three – all of them – are retired. Because all of those three players have different qualities. For Rafa, it’s clay, for Roger, it’s grass, for Novak, it’s the Australian Open.” 

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She also believes that Rafa’s recent record-equalling 20th Grand Slam victory will ignite a fire under the other two and motivate them to achieve big things on their own too. While Rafa and Roger are now tied at 20 each, Novak lags behind with 17 to his name. However, he is the youngest of the lot and has a great chance to catch up with the other two.

“I think Rafa’s 13 French Open titles will push Novak and Roger to even greater heights because they want to catch up. Once those three players, unfortunately for tennis, retire, then you really have to take everything into consideration to see which of those three are the greatest of all time,” she added.

Roger must play a few events before Wimbledon to increase chances of #21

Roger Federer hasn’t played since this year’s Australian Open, after electing to have surgery on his nagging knee and taking the time to recover. He is set to make his comeback at the 2021 Australian Open after almost a year.

Marion Bartoli thinks the Swiss maestro still has some of the spark to win a few more Grand Slams and thinks that his best chances are at the Wimbledon Championships. She also says that his style of play allows him to not rely too much on his fitness and that the conditions in England could help him through.

She said, “Will Roger Federer win another Grand Slam title? Yes, of course. I think it is better he has a four to five month warm-up before he arrives at Wimbledon. I think if he arrives at SW 19 [Wimbledon] without any matches for 9 months and if Wimbledon is his first Slam of the year, he might be too rusty.”

“He doesn’t have to use too much of his fitness on the grass due to the nature of his game. He can serve and volley, come to the net and use that slice wisely. If Roger Federer is able to build up some momentum and confidence, he can win it. He was so close against Novak last time,” she said, referring to the heartbreaking loss against Novak Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon final.

Roger was on match point, serving at 40-15, but Novak made a stunning comeback and clinched the intense five-setter.

So, will Roger Federer clinch Grand Slam #21 in ’21? Only time will tell.

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