Thanks to his astonishing 2021, Novak Djokovic has closed the gap that separated him from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the all-time Grand Slam rankings. The world No. 1 won the first three majors of the season, also reaching the final of the US Open last September.
Tension and exhaustion prevented him from completing the job, giving due credit to a Daniil Medvedev in a state of grace. Had he triumphed in New York, the Serbian phenomenon would have become the second man in the Open Era after Rod Laver to win all four Grand Slams in the same year.
The 34-year-old Serbian finished the season at the top of the ATP rankings for the seventh time in his career, definitively surpassing his idol Pete Sampras. Federer underwent knee surgery for the third time in the past 18 months, while Nadal was limited by a chronic foot injury.
They both seem to have little chance of increasing their respective resumes. Interviewed by Eurosport in recent days, Boris Becker reviewed each of the Big 3.
Boris Becker on the Big 3
“The fact that three players have each won 20 Grand Slams in the same era is a formidable thing that will hardly ever be equaled” – Becker began.
“The numbers do not lie and you have to take them into account. Novak Djokovic has the same number of Majors as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but he has surpassed them on all other statistical items.
If the three stopped playing right now, Nole would be the best of all ”, added the German. Boris focused on Roger and Rafa: “I think they both need to start thinking seriously about their future after tennis.
Maybe Nadal has a few more chances than Roger. Federer has already accomplished many feats that seemed impossible, but he cannot be asked to perform miracles forever. Nobody loves Roger as much as I do, but it is very difficult to get back in style at 41 and after another knee surgery “The Australian Open 2022 could be the first Grand Slam since 1999 without any of the big 3.
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