Men’s tennis has long been dominated by three names: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. The unique and unprecedented dominance that these three have exacted over their sport is unlikely to be seen again.
Over the last couple seasons, it appeared that the triumvirate may have finally come undone. While Djokovic was still going strong, both Nadal and Federer were battling injury and fitness issues. Federer remains injured to this day, but Nadal marked this year with a roaring comeback. When he beat top-seeded Medvedev in this year’s Australian Open, Nadal claimed the crown of most Grand Slams, proving that the greats still hold the reins, with the new Gard of Medvedev, Tsitsipas, and Zverev purring at their heels.
I do not write this article to further applaud Nadal for his twenty-first Grand Slam title, but rather, to include it as the next chapter in the two-decade narrative that these three men have written, and will likely continue to write.
When Federer won his first Grand Slam two decades ago at Wimbledon, he was just 21 years old. He has followed it up with another seven titles at Wimbledon, making him the record holder on those courts. In addition, Federer holds six Australian Open titles, second only to Djokovic, and a further five US Open titles. He only holds one French Open title, where Nadal reigns undisputed.
However, many will remember Federer best for his unique charm, always visible on and off the court. Not only is it reflected in his easy-going playing style, but also in some of his most memorable quotes. When questioned about his greatness in a 2018 interview by the Wall Street Journal, Federer informed the interviewer that, while he may be among the best in men’s tennis, he considers Serena Williams to be “one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis player of all time.”
…many will remember Federer best for his unique charm, always visible on and off the court.
Meanwhile, Nadal brings a more fiery and ferocious presence to the court. Like Federer, he has found a broad and adoring fanbase. As King of the Clay Courts, he was long mentioned in the same breath as Federer, but never got quite the consideration for the GOAT position that his rival did. This may change, nevertheless, after the historic 2022 Australian Open win which saw him reach 21 Grand Slam titles. Nadal now holds the record for most Grand Slam titles over Federer, and it is quite plausible that he will forever hold that one title more than him.
Djokovic is a more tricky figure. The youngest of the three, he joined the great rivalry in 2008 with his first Grand Slam win in Australia. Since then, he has caught up with the other two at an unprecedented rate and will possibly outdo their success by quite some margin before he retires. By all indicators, he should be considered the greatest, and presumably, in a few years down the line, there will be no arguing that fact.
However, Djokovic’s quiet demeanour and his “tendency to self-sabotage,” as Eurosport put it, have meant that he never amassed the same following as the other two outside of his native Serbia. The antics at this year’s Australian Open, wherein his unvaccinated status caused him to be barred from the competition and deported from Australia, are just the latest in a series of controversial events that have served to tarnish his legacy.
Regardless of their differences, the three men have created a rivalry on the pitch that has propelled each to never-before-seen heights. To my knowledge, the only other example of a similar rivalry is the infamous battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the top of European football. Still, even that doesn’t match the one between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic when it comes to duration and unquestionable superiority over other players.
