Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are arguably three of the greatest men’s tennis players of all time.Serena Williams said The US Open will be her farewellwas arguably the greatest female player in the sport.
when Federer Wins 15th major title at Wimbledon In 2009, he overtook Pete Sampras to become the greatest men’s major champion in tennis history.No one would have guessed that Nadal and Djokovic would actually overtake on that historic day he sometimes.
Nadal has 22 major victories, Djokovic 21 and Federer 20. His last victory is the Australian Open in 2018, at the age of 36.
People love to argue about who is the greatest of all time. Its acronym – GOAT – is ridiculously overused.
It doesn’t matter who you think is the GOAT of tennis. Here’s what we do know: The Big 3 of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have left every other man who ever touched a racket when it comes to winning majors. in the meantime compete with each other.
It was Sampras, who won two Grand Slams on the calendar but lost the prime five years of his career, due to archaic tennis rules about professionals playing in Grand Slam tournaments in the 1960s. It’s not about knocking Rod Laver.
But Federer was more than just a champion. He delivered must-see tennis. He played the game with grace and style like no sport had ever played before. Even after falling in his last major final, 5 sets of classics He kept his sense of humor until his match against Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019. That year, the tournament introduced a fifth-set tiebreak at 12-all, which Djokovic won after scoring two match points while Federer led 8-7.
“For me, they picked the wrong year to play the fifth-set tiebreaker,” Federer said in an on-court interview after the game.
In his prime, Federer won both the US Open and Wimbledon five years in a row, for a total of eight Wimbledon titles. He also won the Australian Open six times. The only major he didn’t win at least his five times was the French Open, the only one he won as it was nearly impossible for Nadal to win on clay courts.
some more numbers. Federer was No. 1 in the world rankings for 310 weeks, including 237 consecutive weeks (four years plus his 29). The last time he was ranked No. 1 was in 2019 when he was 38 years old. The last time he competed in a major tournament, he turned 40, a month before he reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2021.
Unfortunately, He lost in straight sets to Hubert Hurkatz in the quarterfinals., including a 6-0 third set. It turned out to be his last appearance in a major championship. He has an astonishing record of 369-60 in the Grand Slams and has reached the finals 31 times. His 10 of his 11 finals losses have been to Nadal or Djokovic, and if Federer (or his two others) didn’t have to face each other for years, how many titles? The question again arises as to whether the
It’s worth reviewing the records of Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, and John McEnroe to lend a little perspective. Lendl and Connors won eight majors, McEnroe seven. total 23 championships.and they are all very player.
That’s the big three extraordinary of the 21st century. There are people who criticize Djokovic. Djokovic’s on-court behavior and his refusal to vaccinate against the coronavirus have cost him two chances to win a major title this year. Some find it difficult to watch Nadal’s notoriously slow pace. His game lasts forever, especially on clay courts.
Federer sure has had a long game — the 2019 Wimbledon final lasted just under five hours grass —but it’s hard to find his many detractors on and off the court.
He’s as relatable as any top tennis player ever. During his four years from 2012 to his 2016, he was counted as a serious Grand Slam contender as he dealt with various injuries and lengthy absences for rehab.
However, he came back to win both Australia (twice) and Wimbledon again. recent knee surgery 13 months ago.
But when he announced he would not be playing at Wimbledon or the US Open this year, there was no doubt the end was near.
serena williams went out — or so it seems — at the US Open, the second grandest stage in tennis. Federer will apparently be heading off to a glorious exhibition – an event he helped create and is also an investor in – that makes little sense.
At 36, Nadal, like the late Federer, is dealing with an aging body that doesn’t always go along with what his heart wants. Djokovic, who is 35, has serious questions about how many more majors he can play if he refuses to vaccinate.
Meanwhile, born seven weeks apart, Federer and Williams will leave the stage with a combined record of 43 major titles and historic status in tennis.
Their departure leaves a hole in the heart of their sport. Others will take their place as major champions. no one can replace them.
