The Big Three have dominated the men’s circuit for a decade and a half, making history and rewriting the record books. Rafael Nadal is ahead of everyone else in the all-time major rankings, thanks to his remarkable feat at the Australian Open 2022.
Against all odds, the Spaniard beat the competition at Melbourne Park to win 21 Slams. The 35-year-old from Manacor also became the fourth man in history to win all Majors at least twice.
The year 2022 did not start well for Novak Djokovic, who paid a high price for his decision not to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus. Novak, who was on the verge of winning the calendar Grand Slam last year, will try to make up for it at Roland Garros.
More complicated is the situation of Roger Federer, who is in full rehabilitation after a new knee operation. Given his age and his physical condition, the Swiss is the least likely to increase his record.
As a guest on the latest edition of “The Functional Tennis” podcast, renowned coach Claudio Pistolesi addressed the GOAT issue.
Pistolesi talks about the GOAT race
“When Roger Federer made the final leap and started winning consecutive Slams, there was no doubt that he was the GOAT” – started Pistolesi.
“Then came Rafael Nadal, who beat him several times and won 13 Roland Garros. His hegemony was broken by Novak Djokovic, who won 20 majors and snatched Federer’s record for weeks at the top of the ATP rankings.
Right now, it is not easy to say who is the greatest in history. Social networks have fueled a war between ultras on this issue, which often results in profanity. Fans are always fighting and that creates a hostile environment. I try to enjoy the big three to the fullest,” he said.
–
