‘It’s Not Up to Me to Talk’ – Rafael Nadal Brushes Aside GOAT Comparison With Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic

The ‘GOAT’ topic is a subject of great discussion and debate in tennis. The ‘Big Three’, comprising of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, have enthralled the tennis fraternity for more than 20 years now. While Federer has dominated on the grass courts at Wimbledon, Nadal is the ‘King of Clay’. On the other hand, Djokovic has reigned supreme on the hard courts.

Nadal is currently in Mexico to participate at the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco.

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Rafael Nadal dismisses the GOAT debate

During the pre-tournament press conference in Acapulco, the 21-time Grand Slam champion talked about the best player in the history of tennis. It was a question that was in direct reference to the comparison between Federer, Djokovic, and himself.

He said, “It’s not up to me to talk about it because it could be an involved party. I understand the debate. In the end it could end up summing up to taste. Both Federer, Djokovic and I have done more than we would have dreamed of. From there, what the experts say it. I dedicate myself to playing. There may be arguments of different kinds. It depends on where you can throw all the arguments may be valid.” (Translated using Google Translate)

How have the three fared against each other?

When it comes to the battles amongst the ‘Big Three’, Djokovic has a better head-to-head record against Nadal and Federer. Against Nadal, the Serb has won 30 matches, while the Spaniard has defeated Djokovic on 28 occasions. On the other hand, he has 27 victories in 50 matches played against Federer. Meanwhile, Nadal has held a significant lead over Federer, winning 24 of the 40 matches played against him.

Last month, Nadal created history by becoming the first man to lift 21 Grand Slam singles titles. He will aim to continue his winning start to the season in Acapulco. He is seeded fourth and will face Reilly Opelka of the USA in the first round.

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