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Rafael Nadal (34) overtakes Roger Federer (39) in the number of Grand Slam titles. It’s 8:20 p.m. So who is better, the greatest tennis player? They are not yet thinking of resigning: the history books have to make room for more success stories. However, the fact is that Spain is already going crazy after Nadal’s 13th title at Roland Garros. “The pride of Spain”, writes the sports newspaper Marca. And he defies the forecast on his cover: “Rafa, you are the greatest we will ever see.”
Could be. Maybe not. Who knows what it will be in 5, 10 or 50 years? For Juan Gutiérrez, tennis journalist for the second great sports newspaper in Spain, AS, the “Toro de Manacor” is already unsurpassed. “It’s official. Nadal is the tallest,” he says. Gutiérrez emphasizes that Federer is at the same level, but he does not stop mentioning that the Swiss is four years older.
Federer congratulates Nadal
Meanwhile, the question about the GOAT (“The greatest of all time”) leaves the two main protagonists Federer and Nadal quite cold. The Basel bidder, who plans to return for the Australian Open in 2021, congratulates Nadal on Twitter: “I think we put pressure on each other to become better players. I hope 20 is just another step on the ongoing journey for both of us. Well done Rafa. You deserve it.”
Nadal thanks and emphasizes that it means a lot to him to share the record with Federer. At the same time, he says: “I am quite honest with you, it would be wonderful one day to go down in history as a player with more important titles.” But he doesn’t always think about it, says Nadal. He makes a comparison: “You can’t always be sad just because your neighbor has a bigger house or a bigger boat.”
Eurosport expert Mats Wilander believes that Nadal has a better chance of one day being called the best in history. For him, Federer is a “genius”, according to the Swede. But: “I have doubts that I can still win a Grand Slam tournament.”
