Nadal, Federer or Djokovic? Gasquet reveals the hardest cash to face: “He is much more…

By Editorial | Sport

It is now established that the debate for the greatest tennis player of all time oscillates between Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. And if there is no right or wrong answer anyway, all of this being purely subjective, it is always interesting to gather the opinions of those who have often faced them. And among them, a certain Richard Gasquet.

Will world tennis once again experience a generation as gargantuan as that led by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic? It’s very unlikely. With around 60 Grand Slam titles combined, the three men have quite simply revolutionized the tennis world with their class, their audacity and their talent. And through their domination, they deprived many other players of major titles…

Richard Gasquet knows well that he did not operate in the same sphere as these monsters. Moreover, his respect record against each of the three Golgoths attests to this: 2-19 against Federer, 1-13 against Djokovic, and 0-18 against Nadal, for a total of 3 victories in 50 matches against this Big Three. A truly dizzying statistic…

Richard Gasquet decides between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic

With his (painful) experience facing the three titans, Gasquet has in any case identified the one that caused him the most problems. In August 2019, he declared:

Federer and Nadal give me fewer problems. Djokovic is much stronger than me on both ends, and he hits the ball very flat.

My backhand is no problem for him, even though it’s a weapon I need and use often against other players. It also serves very well.

It is therefore the “Djoker” who garnered the favors of the Biterrois, in a declaration ultimately not surprising and almost premonitory.

For his part, Djokovic has never hidden the esteem and respect he has for the tricolor. In 2013, he did not hesitate to describe him as “one of the most talented players of his generation”, always constant. Unfortunately, Gasquet was never able to reach the top, which would have allowed him to become a real threat for the top 5 in the world.

It should be noted, however, that with his 16 titles gleaned in singles and his 20 million dollars amassed in his career, the Frenchman can be proud of the career he has led. Because as Gaël Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have already repeated, not everyone can be judged according to the standards of the three monsters that are Nadal, Djokovic and Federer.

As is increasingly the case on the circuit since his phenomenal year 2023, Novak Djokovic was already praised by Richard Gasquet in 2018. Compliments which will certainly please the Serbian, but which will not satisfy those who dream of more stacking numerous Grand Slam titles to his name. A truly unparalleled machine.