Who will be the best of the Big Three?
Nadal, Federer or Djokovic are competing to come out on top in this long-term race in which, for now, Rafa and Roger’s Grand Slam titles seem to outweigh Novak’s numerous records.
Men’s tennis has long been experiencing its most glorious moment in a history full of legends who, however, have not reached the level of the three great monsters who have dominated this sport since the start of the 21st century. This is how Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have become the three giants competing to be the greatest of all time.
Even though it has been a while since all of them seem to be entering their final seasons as professionals, at least at this competitive level, they tend to be among the favourites in the betting markets for the championship winner. That is why, after each triumph, they make the public ask “which are the most reliable betting sites?“, in order to check the predictions firsthand. This is because the upcoming Grand Slams are very important. Thus, we can see how the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open are always covered by the betting sites.
For now, it seems that the criterion counting most in placing each of these three in their rightful position is that of titles won at those four tournaments. There, Nadal and Federer are tied with 20 crowns each, versus the 18 Djokovic has accumulated after winning the 2021 Australian Open. Therefore, the clay of France and the grass of London could change the script of this long-distance race, which already appears to be definitively in its final metres.
More than Grand Slam titles
However, if the major titles are counted together, that is, Grand Slams, Masters 1000, the ATP Finals and the Olympic Games, the Swiss player has the fewest titles and Djokovic has the highest total, although, as with everything in their careers, the numbers are very close.
All things considered, it may also be necessary to weigh in some way the personal records each one has achieved over the course of their careers. Novak, for example, has spent the most weeks as ATP world No. 1, while Rafa is the only one to have won the same Grand Slam tournament at least 10 times, with 13 in France so far, and Roger the only one to have reached at least one final for 20 consecutive years.
What is clear is that the legacy these three myths leave in men’s tennis will be historic, very difficult to surpass, and it will surely take time before another generation is seen with the same quality and level of competitiveness that these players have maintained for more than 15 years.
In short, there are various ways to place the three greatest men’s tennis players in a hypothetical ranking; however, the one most people use is Grand Slam titles, where Nadal and Federer are tied with 20, followed by Djokovic and his 18 occupied thrones, a career that will by no means end this way, that is for sure, and that has plenty of other attractions to fuel the debate and speculate about the positions of all of them.
