“You have to go with the numbers” Greg Rusedski picks his GOAT after Rafael Nadal’s 21st major win


“You have to go with the numbers” Greg Rusedski picks his GOAT after Rafael Nadal’s 21st major win

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer

The 2022 Australian Open will always remain a historic event in tennis for all the drama around the tournament that ended with a historic record being created by Rafael Nadal. With Novak Djokovic the favourite for the Slam, his deportation from the country over his decision to not get vaccinated had the draw wide open and Nadal was too good to ignore a gift like that.

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Nadal became the first man ever to win 21 majors as he won the Australian Open for the 2nd time in his career and smashed the 3-way tie between him, Novak and Roger Federer with all three of them tied on 20 Slams. While Federer and Djokovic both played a final after winning their 20th, they had to suffer a defeat but Nadal fought an intense 5 hours 24-minute battle to claim the historic 21st Slam.

While this has opened another dimension to the ever-lasting GOAT debate between the trio that is now called the ‘Big-3’, former World No.4 and British No. 1 Greg Rusedski offered his 2 cents on the debate. Rusedski has been a close follower of the rise of these three players and made his choice on who will become the GOAT as per his understanding.

“With Novak and Roger Federer early on, you still thought that they would have amazing careers, and possibly win slams, but you never felt like they would blow you off the court. Andre Agassi would always say that, once Roger figures it out, he will become the greatest of all time. It was like playing a human backboard, playing Novak. As well as the stats, people also ask me who was the best when they were all at their absolute best?

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The answer is that it depends on the surface. On hardcourts, on their best day, I think Novak beats Rafa and Roger. On grass, even though Novak’s record is phenomenal, you would take Roger all day. And if tennis is still being played in a million years from now, I do not think that Rafa’s claycourt records will come close to being touched. He is the king of the clay. It is hard to define style.

“Roger is the best-looking, shot-producing tennis player. He is the guy who does not sweat and who makes it look easy. We would all like to look like him, but I think that, ultimately, you have to go with the numbers,” wrote Rusedski in his special editorial article for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Greg Rusedski picks who will replace Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at the top

Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev
Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev with their trophies at the 2022 Australian Open

Despite the rise of new talented players, the Big-3 have continued to dominate and have gotten the better of them. The only player to win a Grand Slam other than Andy Murray, who was a part of ‘Big-4‘ before his hip injury saw him lose his spot, is Daniil Medvedev who won the 2021 US Open defeating Djokovic in the finals and denying him his 21st Slam and the very rare Calendar Slam.

“You are also beginning to get the feeling that this next generation is starting to believe they can beat them. Medvedev will learn from this experience. I like his swagger and how he is willing to be his own personality. He is in the same mould as Novak and is the real deal. It is a question of when, not if, he becomes the world No.1,” added Rusedski further who seemed to be highly impressed by the Russian.

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Also Read: Despite Rafael Nadal winning 21 majors, Novak Djokovic will be ‘The GOAT’ believes Greg Rusedski