The sport of tennis has seen several great players over the past few decades. In men's tennis, this illustrious list includes icons of the sport like Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. However, just three players can lay a particularly strong claim to be contenders for the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), and as it happens, all three players have been active during the same era and continue to be active players today - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. All three have achieved many records that have surpassed what their accomplished predecessors achieved. It's tough to say which one of these three can be called the GOAT, especially because all three are still active - it may be easier to pass this judgement once all three of these remarkable players hang up their boots and retire. It's a good time to sit back and look at some of the most significant achievements in the world of tennis (since the advent of the Open Era in 1968), as the ATP Tour takes an indefinite pause while the world reels from the Corona Virus.
The domination by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic has been so overwhelming that in the last 15 years, since the 2005 French Open, one of these three has gone on to win no fewer than 52 of the 60 Grand Slam tournaments that have taken place. The exceptions have been Andy Murray (3 titles), Stan Wawrinka (3 titles), Juan Martin Del Potro (1 title) and Marin Cilic (1 title). This level of domination for such an extended period has never been seen before. All three have kept up their winning ways well into their thirties. In the past, most players announced their retirement in their early thirties because they weren't able to deal with the extreme physical demands of the sport.
The domination by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic has been so overwhelming that in the last 15 years, since the 2005 French Open, one of these three has gone on to win no fewer than 52 of the 60 Grand Slam tournaments that have taken place. The exceptions have been Andy Murray (3 titles), Stan Wawrinka (3 titles), Juan Martin Del Potro (1 title) and Marin Cilic (1 title). This level of domination for such an extended period has never been seen before. All three have kept up their winning ways well into their thirties. In the past, most players announced their retirement in their early thirties because they weren't able to deal with the extreme physical demands of the sport.
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| Federer, Djokovic and Nadal Image Courtesy: Google Images |
Number Of Grand Slam Titles:
Roger Federer - 20, Rafael Nadal - 19, Novak Djokovic - 17, Pete Sampras - 14, Bjorn Borg - 11, Jimmy Connors - 8, Ivan Lendl - 8, Andre Agassi - 8, John McEnroe - 7, Mats Wilander - 7
Number Of Grand Slam Finals:
Roger Federer - 31, Rafael Nadal - 27, Novak Djokovic - 26, Ivan Lendl - 19, Pete Sampras - 18, Bjorn Borg - 16, Jimmy Connors - 15, Andre Agassi 15, John McEnroe - 11, Mats Wilander - 11, Stefan Edberg - 11, Andy Murray - 11
Number Of Grand Slam Semi Finals:
Roger Federer - 46, Novak Djokovic - 37, Rafael Nadal - 33, Jimmy Connors - 31, Ivan Lendl - 28, Andre Agassi - 26, Pete Sampras - 23, Andy Murray - 21, John McEnroe - 19, Stefan Edberg - 19
Number Of Grand Slam Quarter Finals:
Roger Federer - 57, Novak Djokovic - 46, Jimmy Connors - 41, Rafael Nadal - 41, Andre Agassi - 36, Ivan Lendl - 34, Andy Murray - 30, Pete Sampras - 29, John McEnroe - 26, Stefan Edberg - 26
Number Of Years As Year End No.1:
Pete Sampras - 6, Jimmy Connors - 5, Roger Federer - 5, Novak Djokovic - 5, Rafael Nadal - 5, John McEnroe - 4, Ivan Lendl - 4, Bjorn Borg - 2, Stefan Edberg - 2, Lleyton Hewitt - 2
Number Of Weeks At No.1:
Roger Federer - 310, Pete Sampras - 286, Novak Djokovic - 282, Ivan Lendl - 270, Jimmy Connors - 268, Rafael Nadal - 209, John McEnroe - 170, Bjorn Borg - 109, Andre Agassi - 101, Lleyton Hewitt - 80
Number Of Years In The Year End Top 10:
Roger Federer - 17, Jimmy Connors - 16, Andre Agassi - 16, Rafael Nadal - 15, Ivan Lendl - 13, Pete Sampras - 12, Novak Djokovic - 12, Boris Becker - 11, Guillermo Vilas - 10, John McEnroe - 10
Number Of Tournaments Won:
Jimmy Connors - 109, Roger Federer - 103, Ivan Lendl - 94, Rafael Nadal - 85, Novak Djokovic - 79, John McEnroe - 77, Bjorn Borg - 64, Pete Sampras - 64, Guillermo Vilas - 62, Ilie Nastase - 60, Andre Agassi - 60
Number Of Masters 1000 Tournaments Won (Since 1990):
Rafael Nadal - 35, Novak Djokovic - 34, Roger Federer - 28, Andre Agassi - 17, Andy Murray - 14, Pete Sampras - 11, Thomas Muster - 8, Michael Chang - 7, Boris Becker - 5, Jim Courier - 5, Marcelo Rios - 5, Gustavo Kuerten - 5, Marat Safin - 5, Andy Roddick - 5
Number Of Year End Championship Titles:
Roger Federer - 6, Ivan Lendl - 5, Pete Sampras - 5, Novak Djokovic - 5, Ilie Nastase - 4, John McEnroe - 3, Boris Becker - 3, Bjorn Borg - 2, Lleyton Hewitt - 2
Total Number Of Match Wins:
Jimmy Connors - 1274, Roger Federer - 1242, Ivan Lendl - 1068, Rafael Nadal - 990, Guillermo Vilas - 949, Novak Djokovic - 911, John McEnroe - 881, Andre Agassi - 870, Ilie Nastase - 862, Stefan Edberg - 801
Total Match Win Percentages:
Rafael Nadal - 83.2%, Novak Djokovic - 83%, Bjorn Borg - 82.7%, Roger Federer - 82.1%, Jimmy Connors - 81.8%, John McEnroe - 81.6%, Ivan Lendl - 81.5%, Andy Murray - 77.5%, Pete Sampras - 77.4%, Boris Becker - 76.9%
Career Grand Slams:
Rod Laver (achieved in 1969 US Open), Andre Agassi (achieved in 1999 French Open), Roger Federer (achieved in 2009 French Open), Rafael Nadal (achieved in 2010 US Open), Novak Djokovic (achieved in 2016 French Open)
Calendar Year Grand Slam:
Rod Laver (in 1969, after achieving it in 1962 before the Open Era)
Number Of Tournaments Won In A Single Grand Slam:
Rafael Nadal: 12 (French Open), Roger Federer - 8 (Wimbledon), Novak Djokovic - 8 (Australian Open), Pete Sampras - 7 (Wimbledon), Bjorn Borg - 6 (French Open), Roger Federer - 6 (Australian Open), Bjorn Borg - 5 (Wimbledon), Jimmy Connors - 5 (US Open), Pete Sampras - 5 (US Open), Roger Federer - 5 (US Open), Novak Djokovic - 5 (Wimbledon)
Head To Head Records Between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic:
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal 16:24, Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic 23:27, Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 26:29
As things go now, going purely by the statistics, Federer is closest to being the GOAT, despite having a negative head to head record against both Nadal and Djokovic. There is no doubt about the fact that Nadal is the GOAT on clay. Djokovic has done remarkably well and staked his claim for being the GOAT, coming from the shadows of Federer and Nadal in 2011, and being the most dominant player in the world since then. Federer was born in 1981, Nadal in 1986 and Djokovic in 1987, so chances are that Nadal and Djokovic will be active for a few years after Federer retires. Hence there is a chance that Nadal and Djokovic could cross some of Federer's records. The most significant and prestigious record is perhaps the number of Grand Slam tournaments won, and that may very well eventually determine the GOAT. It will be interesting to do this analysis once these three greats retire, though fans around the world are in no hurry for that eventuality. We are fortunate to have lived through an era that has had three of the most accomplished players in the history of tennis! The decision on the GOAT will have to wait for now!!
Roger Federer - 20, Rafael Nadal - 19, Novak Djokovic - 17, Pete Sampras - 14, Bjorn Borg - 11, Jimmy Connors - 8, Ivan Lendl - 8, Andre Agassi - 8, John McEnroe - 7, Mats Wilander - 7
Number Of Grand Slam Finals:
Roger Federer - 31, Rafael Nadal - 27, Novak Djokovic - 26, Ivan Lendl - 19, Pete Sampras - 18, Bjorn Borg - 16, Jimmy Connors - 15, Andre Agassi 15, John McEnroe - 11, Mats Wilander - 11, Stefan Edberg - 11, Andy Murray - 11
Number Of Grand Slam Semi Finals:
Roger Federer - 46, Novak Djokovic - 37, Rafael Nadal - 33, Jimmy Connors - 31, Ivan Lendl - 28, Andre Agassi - 26, Pete Sampras - 23, Andy Murray - 21, John McEnroe - 19, Stefan Edberg - 19
Number Of Grand Slam Quarter Finals:
Roger Federer - 57, Novak Djokovic - 46, Jimmy Connors - 41, Rafael Nadal - 41, Andre Agassi - 36, Ivan Lendl - 34, Andy Murray - 30, Pete Sampras - 29, John McEnroe - 26, Stefan Edberg - 26
Number Of Years As Year End No.1:
Pete Sampras - 6, Jimmy Connors - 5, Roger Federer - 5, Novak Djokovic - 5, Rafael Nadal - 5, John McEnroe - 4, Ivan Lendl - 4, Bjorn Borg - 2, Stefan Edberg - 2, Lleyton Hewitt - 2
Number Of Weeks At No.1:
Roger Federer - 310, Pete Sampras - 286, Novak Djokovic - 282, Ivan Lendl - 270, Jimmy Connors - 268, Rafael Nadal - 209, John McEnroe - 170, Bjorn Borg - 109, Andre Agassi - 101, Lleyton Hewitt - 80
Number Of Years In The Year End Top 10:
Roger Federer - 17, Jimmy Connors - 16, Andre Agassi - 16, Rafael Nadal - 15, Ivan Lendl - 13, Pete Sampras - 12, Novak Djokovic - 12, Boris Becker - 11, Guillermo Vilas - 10, John McEnroe - 10
Number Of Tournaments Won:
Jimmy Connors - 109, Roger Federer - 103, Ivan Lendl - 94, Rafael Nadal - 85, Novak Djokovic - 79, John McEnroe - 77, Bjorn Borg - 64, Pete Sampras - 64, Guillermo Vilas - 62, Ilie Nastase - 60, Andre Agassi - 60
Number Of Masters 1000 Tournaments Won (Since 1990):
Rafael Nadal - 35, Novak Djokovic - 34, Roger Federer - 28, Andre Agassi - 17, Andy Murray - 14, Pete Sampras - 11, Thomas Muster - 8, Michael Chang - 7, Boris Becker - 5, Jim Courier - 5, Marcelo Rios - 5, Gustavo Kuerten - 5, Marat Safin - 5, Andy Roddick - 5
Number Of Year End Championship Titles:
Roger Federer - 6, Ivan Lendl - 5, Pete Sampras - 5, Novak Djokovic - 5, Ilie Nastase - 4, John McEnroe - 3, Boris Becker - 3, Bjorn Borg - 2, Lleyton Hewitt - 2
Total Number Of Match Wins:
Jimmy Connors - 1274, Roger Federer - 1242, Ivan Lendl - 1068, Rafael Nadal - 990, Guillermo Vilas - 949, Novak Djokovic - 911, John McEnroe - 881, Andre Agassi - 870, Ilie Nastase - 862, Stefan Edberg - 801
Total Match Win Percentages:
Rafael Nadal - 83.2%, Novak Djokovic - 83%, Bjorn Borg - 82.7%, Roger Federer - 82.1%, Jimmy Connors - 81.8%, John McEnroe - 81.6%, Ivan Lendl - 81.5%, Andy Murray - 77.5%, Pete Sampras - 77.4%, Boris Becker - 76.9%
Career Grand Slams:
Rod Laver (achieved in 1969 US Open), Andre Agassi (achieved in 1999 French Open), Roger Federer (achieved in 2009 French Open), Rafael Nadal (achieved in 2010 US Open), Novak Djokovic (achieved in 2016 French Open)
Calendar Year Grand Slam:
Rod Laver (in 1969, after achieving it in 1962 before the Open Era)
Number Of Tournaments Won In A Single Grand Slam:
Rafael Nadal: 12 (French Open), Roger Federer - 8 (Wimbledon), Novak Djokovic - 8 (Australian Open), Pete Sampras - 7 (Wimbledon), Bjorn Borg - 6 (French Open), Roger Federer - 6 (Australian Open), Bjorn Borg - 5 (Wimbledon), Jimmy Connors - 5 (US Open), Pete Sampras - 5 (US Open), Roger Federer - 5 (US Open), Novak Djokovic - 5 (Wimbledon)
Head To Head Records Between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic:
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal 16:24, Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic 23:27, Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 26:29
As things go now, going purely by the statistics, Federer is closest to being the GOAT, despite having a negative head to head record against both Nadal and Djokovic. There is no doubt about the fact that Nadal is the GOAT on clay. Djokovic has done remarkably well and staked his claim for being the GOAT, coming from the shadows of Federer and Nadal in 2011, and being the most dominant player in the world since then. Federer was born in 1981, Nadal in 1986 and Djokovic in 1987, so chances are that Nadal and Djokovic will be active for a few years after Federer retires. Hence there is a chance that Nadal and Djokovic could cross some of Federer's records. The most significant and prestigious record is perhaps the number of Grand Slam tournaments won, and that may very well eventually determine the GOAT. It will be interesting to do this analysis once these three greats retire, though fans around the world are in no hurry for that eventuality. We are fortunate to have lived through an era that has had three of the most accomplished players in the history of tennis! The decision on the GOAT will have to wait for now!!
4 comments:
Awesome Akshay , Agree with you.
GOAT till date RF , could be ND in the coming years.
Thanks Deepak. I think that's what is going to happen eventually!
Maybe add in Olympics and Davis Cup stats? (Obvious Nadal fan)
Vineet. Yes, Olympics and Davis Cup stats also certainly add to the laurels of these greats. I left them out because both are outside the purview of the ATP Tour and don't contribute to ranking points etc. But yes, it's not right to undermine their importance.
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