Rafael Nadal makes Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer Wimbledon claim
Rafael Nadal has reiterated he rates Novak Djokovic as the ‘greatest tennis player of all time’ and insists his former rival has a ‘chance’ to win Wimbledon.
Djokovic is bidding to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam and move level with Roger Federer on eight SW19 titles.
The 39-year-old, who has not added to his Grand Slam tally since 2023, began his Wimbledon campaign by beating Wu Yibing in four sets.
Djokovic’s slight decline and the emergence of current superstars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has raised doubt over the Serbian legend’s ability to claim the 25th major he craves.
But Nadal, who won 22 Grand Slams and a record 14 French Open titles, says Djokovic will continue to fight for ‘the most important titles’ if his ‘body allows it’.
‘Novak is still here because he loves this sport and feels the passion to compete,’ Nadal told CNBC Sport.
‘While he maintains that motivation and his body allows it, he will continue to have chances to fight for the most important tournaments.
‘What he has achieved is extraordinary. We have all taken our careers to the limit, and he continues to do so.
‘When someone has won as much as we have, the only reason to continue is that they still enjoy the competition and feel they can remain competitive.’
Winning a 25th Grand Slam title and joining Federer on eight Wimbledon titles would strengthen Djokovic’s claim to be the best tennis player of all time.
Nadal believes the Serbian already deserves that accolade, however, adding: ‘It’s all about numbers.
‘When I say Novak is the best tennis player of all time it’s because that’s what the numbers say.
‘You need to look at the numbers when you deliver that question over who is the GOAT. Then you look at what players create for others, and the emotions and the inspiration they create with their tennis.’
Fans are wondering how close the two current best players in the world – Sinner and Alcaraz – will get to the numbers that Djokovic, Federer and Nadal amassed.
World number one Sinner is the heavy favourite to win a fifth Grand Slam and second Wimbledon title at SW19.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, who missed Wimbledon and the French Open through injury, already has seven major titles at the age of 23.
Asked if Sinner or Alcaraz could emulate the big three, Nadal said: ‘I don’t know. I mean, you need to play well for a super long time.
‘Today it looks like Sinner and Alcaraz don’t have rivals but it depends because new great rivals could arrive on the tour.
‘It depends how tough it will be for both of them to keep winning that often, and they will have to stay away from injuries.
‘You never know, life and tennis are unpredictable.’
Djokovic faces Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round of Wimbledon while defending champion Sinner takes on Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Sinner overcame a scare in his Wimbledon opener, twice finding himself behind and recovering from a couple of heavy falls to beat Miomir Kecmanovic.
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