There’s no denying Roger Federer’s status as one of the greatest tennis players in history. With an astounding 111 career titles, including 20 Grand Slams, Federer has often been labeled as the pinnacle of tennis excellence by fans and experts alike. Yet, when asked to name the best player in tennis history, Federer humbly stepped aside from the debate, refraining from including himself in the conversation.
Federer, who retired in 2022 after 24 years of professional tennis, shared his views on the ongoing debate over tennis’ “GOAT” status. While names like Novak Djokovicand Rafael Nadal frequently surface alongside Federer’s in this discussion, the Swiss legend leaned toward Djokovic as the frontrunner in a mid-2023 interview with Tages-Anzeiger.
“I don’t know. What’s better: winning Wimbledon at 17 like [Boris] Becker or Paris at 36 like Novak? I don’t know. What he has achieved is absolutely gigantic. It could be enough,” Federer said, referencing Djokovic’s historic accomplishments.
However, he added a notable caveat: “But I think, as long as Rafa [Nadal] is still playing, you can’t definitively answer that yet.” While Federer avoided making a definitive call between his two greatest rivals, his remarks subtly highlighted his admiration for both players — though perhaps leaning slightly toward Djokovic. With Nadal now retired, the question looms: has Federer’s perspective shifted?
