Despite Rafael Nadal winning 21 majors, Novak Djokovic will be ‘The GOAT’ believes Greg Rusedski
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Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Greg Rusedski
In a battle against the odds, Rafael Nadal went on to win the historic 21st Grand Slam title when he defeated World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the finals of the 2022 Australian Open. Not many expected the Spaniard to win the title given the difficult road he had taken to reach Australia that included an absence from the Tour of 6 months, a foot injury and testing positive for Covid-19.
Nadal had himself admitted that he does not think he has a chance at the title and he is just happy for getting the opportunity to play. In the finals as well, he was 2-sets down going into the 3rd and had to defend 3 breakpoints at 2-3. He did manage to save those points and win the next three sets after a 5 hour and 24-minute battle that went past 1 AM in Australia.
With no other man managing to win 21 majors, Nadal became the first-ever to do so and he broke many other records with his win in Melbourne Park. The win also made him just the 4th man in tennis to complete multiple Career Slams having won all 4 Slams more than once. With 90 titles to his name now, he is 4th in the Open Era for most titles won and is also the only player to win an Olympics Gold and complete the Career Slam twice.
“This was, without doubt, Rafael Nadal’s greatest accomplishment in tennis. It was an unbelievable final, one of the best grand-slam finals ever, not just for its historic significance but also the quality and intensity for well over five hours. With everything at stake – Rafa going for his 21st slam, Daniil Medvedev trying to become world No.1 and going two sets up – you could not have written a better story. It had everything.
“But if you had wanted to bet your house on anyone at a very young age, it would have been Rafa. But if you wanted someone to play for your life, Rafa would be that guy. He never gives up. He is superhuman from a mental point of view. He has delivered on that promise, but I do still believe that this era in tennis will end with Novak being regarded as the greatest,” wrote former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski in his special editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Greg Rusedski picks Novak Djokovic over Rafael Nadal for most Grand Slam titles
While Nadal can certainly boast of his 21 majors, Rusedski believes that his close rival Novak Djokovic will be called the greatest player ever. Djokovic is a year younger to Nadal and can be called more fit given Nadal’s continuous battles with fitness that make his Calendar very short. While Roger Federer is slowly getting out of the conversation for the same reasons, Greg believes the Swiss Maestro has only more shot.
“The only place Roger is possibly going to be a threat is Wimbledon, and only then if his body allows him to get back, so I think it is basically now a two-horse race for the most slams. Rafa will be licking his lips and thinking, “No.22 is going to come in Paris,” but Novak will be, “OK, I want to see you in Paris,” because Wimbledon and the US Open should be his.
“We could easily end 2022 with them both on 22 titles, but I think since last year’s feats that Novak will go down as the greatest. If he stays fit, he can still average two slams a year for the next two or three years. I think he can get to 23, 24, or 25. He also has a winning record against both Rafa and Roger, as well as the most weeks as world No.1,” added Rusedski.
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Sarthak Shitole
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