When it comes to the top players in the ATP circuit, three names undoubtedly feature in it: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. But it has been difficult to prove who is the best of the best! However, the wait might have ended for some tennis fans, particularly Federer fans as Ion Tiriac has an answer. The Romanian legend, who has seen the 3 players grow from their childhood days, thinks that Federer has an edge over the other two tennis stars, for one particular reason.

Tiriac, who is a billionaire now through his business ventures which include financial services and automobile companies, was active on the circuit even before the Big 3 were born. At one stage or the other, he made a crucial contribution toward getting these tennis stars ready for the brutal tennis battles they fought years later. Including Djokovic, whom he called to Romania for training. Hence, the person who has seen how the legends are made is better suited to answer the million-dollar question: who stands at the top among the Big 3?

Well, according to Tiriac, it’s Federer. Now, Nadal and Djokovic fans would wonder ‘why’. Tiriac has an answer ready for that. The Romanian tennis legend thinks that Federer is beyond the comparisons made between the Big 3. “I sincerely think that he is really in a category apart if we compare him to Nadal or Djokovic,” Tiriac said. What made him say this? “He is a player who invented things on a tennis court that did not exist,” Tiriac added.

Federer responded to the shots of his opponents in the most ‘innovative way.’ Remember the famous ‘tweener shot” where he hit the balls from the baseline through his legs? The Swiss declared his tweener against Djokovic at the US Open 2009, as “the greatest shot I ever hit in my life.” This wasn’t the only invention. Another one into the foray was the sneak attack. “Physically, he (Federer) has always been a little below Djokovic and Nadal, but the talent, that, he had in his hands, that is a certainty,” Tiriac further remarked.

Federer retired from the professional tennis circuit with 20 Grand Slam titles, an Olympic silver in the singles category, and Gold in doubles. His Big 3 counterparts, on the other hand, are still active, with Nadal having clinched two more Grand Slams than Federer now and Djokovic standing on the top with a record 24 Grand Slams and an Olympic Gold.

But it seems that despite Djokovic’s efforts to make it to the top of the tennis world from humble beginnings, one of his earliest supporters offered the GOAT crown to the Swiss legend. Not many would be aware of it, but it was Tiriac who saw Djokovic train on the courts in Romania when he was a ‘baby.‘

Ion Tiriac refused to give the GOAT crown to the “Young Man, Old Player” Novak Djokovic

Tiriac may not know Federer very well to his own admission, but he has known Djokovic since he was a kid, practicing on the courts of Romania. The 85-year-old detailed Djokovic’s routine during the early days. “The “baby” Djokovic was training in Romania at the very beginning. He only did 80 kilometers every day because it was too expensive in Belgrade. He came with his parents,” Tiriac said.

The Romanian saw Djokovic’s struggle in his early days. He saw him grow into the fierce tennis player who beat Federer and Nadal on their favored surfaces. The Serb even refused to change his nationality despite mounting debts, showing great character.

“I called him after his victory in Paris for the Olympic Games, and I told him: “Young Man, old player’. I also took the opportunity to make a bet with him, but I can’t tell you that, unfortunately!” Tiriac recalled. Despite all this, the billionaire refused to give Djokovic the GOAT crown. Only Tiriac knows the reasons for this. But he has ignited another fierce debate about the best of the best in the tennis circuit with his controversial take!