“Rafa now knows how to win in all the different venues,” Mats Wilander puts Rafael Nadal ahead of Roger Federer in GOAT debate
Mats Wilander recently stated that Rafael Nadal's ability to win many titles on multiple surfaces makes him better than Roger Federer
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Mats Wilander, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Mats Wilander has had his say on the GOAT debate. The Swedish legend has claimed that Rafael Nadal’s ability to win at least two Grand Slam titles on each surface is what separates him from Roger Federer. He pointed out that Federer only won one French Open during his storied career despite being a 20-time Grand Slam champion.
Wilander was having his say on Eurosport, where he is a pundit, and said, ”Having won there for the second time for someone like him, now he has won all of the Majors twice or more, that’s massive. That’s where he separates himself from the great Roger Federer, who only won one French Open. So Rafa now knows how to win in all the different venues.”
Rafael Nadal won his second Australian Open title in 2022. He defeated Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-setter to lift the trophy at Melbourne Park. It was also the 21st Grand Slam title of his career. He then won the 14th French Open of his career. That victory took his Grand Slam title total to twenty-two. This makes him the man with the most majors ever.
His position on top of that list isn’t a given though. With Novak Djokovic on his heels with 21 majors of his own, Nadal will be keen to retain his Australian Open crown. Federer retired last year and is third on the list with 20 majors. The GOAT debate has been raging since the Nadal-Federer rivalry began in the mid-2000s. The emergence of Djokovic in 2011 has made it a three-way debate since.
Wilander’s opinion will indeed have takers amongst Nadal’s fans, while fans of Djokovic and Federer will argue against it. Federer, with his retirement, won’t be able to add to his argument for GOAT. However, Djokovic and Nadal will strive to win the 2023 Australian Open to add to their legacies.
Related: Paul McNamee rates Rafael Nadal’s forehand over Roger Federer’s serve and Novak Djokovic’s backhand
Mats Wilander believes Rafael Nadal will be “an absolute animal” at Australian Open
Wilander believes that Rafael Nadal will begin the Australian Open at full tilt. He thinks that having won the 2022 edition, Nadal will be hungry to retain his title. The conditions will work in his favor too, Wilander believes.
“Rafael Nadal is going to be there from the first point of the year at the Australian Open, I am 100 percent sure because of the sun, because of the conditions, because having won there is huge. He just has to get there healthy. Nadal is going to be an absolute animal and I’m sure that he is going to play his best tennis. He has a big chance to win the Australian Open, as he does the French Open.” Wilander said.
Nadal will enter the first Grand Slam of the year as the first seed following the withdrawal of compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. He will begin his title defense on the 16th of January in Melbourne.
Incase you missed it:
Novak Djokovic matches Rafael Nadal’s career title tally with the Adelaide International win
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Samarth Srivastava
(139 Articles Published)