Let the GOAT debate go
Now that the 2020 Grand Slam season is done and Rafael Nadal is tied with Roger Federer at 20 major championships, the most for a man in tennis history, followed by Novak Djokovic at 17, some might be tempted to rekindle the conversation about which is the “Greatest of All-time.”
The truth is, everyone should just let that GOAT debate go. Trying to come up with a consensus pick is silly — especially now, when the Big Three are still active — and, more to the point, unnecessary.
Why insist on choosing one when we should appreciate, admire and elevate all of them?
Two weeks before Nadal trounced Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 Sunday to earn a 13th trophy at the French Open and catch Federer in the Slam standings, Serena Williams was asked to assess the significance of such an achievement.
Williams owns 23 major singles trophies, the most by anyone in the professional era and second to Margaret Court’s all-era standard of 24.
“You can’t compare two people that are equally great. Roger — I mean, he’s Roger Federer. I think that says enough. So, you know, it’s like, I don’t understand why people want to pit, ‘Who’s this? Who’s that?’ They both have spectacular careers that 99 percent of people can only dream of. … Every single credit and every single thing that they get, they absolutely deserve it,” Williams said. “I’m a big fan of both, to be honest.”
Nothing wrong with that. Also nothing wrong with picking one to cheer for, to like the best. That’s what fandom is all about.
Those partial to Federer, Nadal or Djokovic can build a case.
Nadal has his 20 majors, at least one at each Slam and at least one in each of three decades, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s; his 13 at Roland Garros are more than anyone won at any tournament; he leads Federer 24-16 head-tohead; he leads Djokovic 5-4 in Grand Slam finals.
Federer has his 20 and a career Slam, too; he holds the record for most weeks at No. 1 in the ATP rankings; his totals for tour titles (103) and match wins (1,242) are the highest of the group.
Djokovic’s 17 major titles makes him the only other man with more than 14, and he, like his rivals, owns a career Slam, and like Nadal, has won one in three decades; he leads the head-to-head series with both Nadal (29-27) and Federer (27-23).
Be grateful for whatever we get the rest of the way. Seems safe to say there never will be anything like it again.