“You have Novak Djokovic but Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are gentlemen of tennis”- Carlos Rodriguez gives his verdict on the GOAT debate
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Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
The famed Big-3 of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have redefined the modern era of tennis with their sheer domination. The trio shares an astonishing 61 Grand Slams among them, not to name the endless list of Masters titles. But to reduce their era-defining masterclasses with just titles would diminish what they have achieved in sport.
Rafael Nadal reignited the GOAT debate with a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier this year. But the title itself isn’t what stood out the most, it was the renaissance of the Spaniard from a career-threatening injury last year. Similar to Nadal, Federer had a resurgence of his known when he won the 2017 Australian Open title just 6 months after undergoing knee surgery. What truly defines their legacy is the way they bounce back in the face of adversities.
Famed tennis coach Carlos Rodriguez weighed in his thoughts about the GOAT debate. The Argentinian who coached the likes of Justine Henin, Li Na, and Peng Shuai, said Federer would be his pick along with Nadal but to choose one over the other would be unfair to the sheer class both of them have displayed over the last two decades.
“I think Roger Federer for sure, and I cannot pick Roger [as the GOAT] without Rafael Nadal. I don’t agree with people who say it is one or the other. You cannot split those guys because I know exactly where those players started at 13 or 14 [years old]. Today, if I say it is one or the other, then something is missing,” Rodiguez said in the latest episode of the ‘The Functional Tennis’ podcast.
‘Gentlemen of tennis’: Carlos Rodriguez on Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
Rodiguez further added there are other greats such as Novak Djokovic, but Nadal and Federer are in a class of their own. He remarked on them as ‘gentlemen of tennis’ and it is hard to pick only one of the two as the GOAT.
“You have Novak [Djokovic], you have a lot of other champions, but these two are so different. They are both such good people, such gentlemen of tennis that I cannot pick one or the other. I have to say both of them. Rafael Nadal is one of the best problem-solvers on the tour. He deals with success and failures equally with a balanced mind, focusing on the present,” he added.
The last tournament featuring the Big-3 was the 2021 French Open. Since then the trio had their own share of struggles with Nadal being on the sidelines last year with a foot injury, while Djokovic was forced to skip tournaments due to his controversial anti-vax stance. As for Federer, he is yet to play in nearly 8 months, but a comeback during the hardcourt swing following Wimbledon is a possibility for the Swiss Maestro.
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T Rushitha
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