Novak Djokovic at the top, but Nadal and Federer are winning hearts

Former ATP star Younes El Aynaoui has brought an interesting perspective to the debate about the greatest tennis player of all time (GOAT). He argues that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer accept defeat better than their colleague Novak Djokovic.

In an interview with Punto De Break, El Aynaoui emphasized that the image of a true champion is formed not only by victories, but also by behavior in defeat. Novak Djokovic, who recently celebrated his 24th with his victory at the 2023 US Open.

won Grand Slam titles, leads the list of most Grand Slam victories. Nadal follows with 22 major titles and Federer with 20. In addition to these impressive statistics, the Serbian also holds the most records in men’s tennis, including the most weeks as world number one and the most ATP Finals titles.

Personality and behavior on and off the pitch

While El Aynaoui acknowledges Djokovic’s statistical superiority, he stresses that other factors are more important when evaluating greatness. “On paper, Novak is making a bigger and bigger difference, but you also have to evaluate the behavior and the person.

“In this respect, for me, Rafa and Roger are above Novak,” said the 52-year-old Moroccan. He emphasized that Nadal never broke a racket or complained about anything and always showed a good attitude: “Rafa is an example for everyone who plays tennis.” Federer is also praised for his way of accepting defeat.

These qualities, according to El Aynaoui, help them stand out in the GOAT debate. El Aynaoui, who played his last game in 2017, also remembers early encounters with Nadal and Federer. He defeated both in the early stages of their careers and noticed Nadal’s potential back then, while he only later recognized Federer’s true talent.

A look into the future and legacy

Finally, El Aynaoui reflects on the era of these three tennis players. “Fortunately we were able to enjoy the era of these three players.

Djokovic is still playing and adding to his legend. We’ll see how far the new generation goes next year.” He emphasizes that there is something else behind the numbers – the way you behave in difficult moments of life.

“When you win it’s very easy, but the real champion is revealed in defeat.”