Cold reality check for Federer's GOAT claims

1 year ago 72

Australian large Wally Masur has weighed successful connected tennis' GOAT debate, throwing a fewer curveballs into the discussion.

By taking retired the Australian Open men's last connected Sunday night, Novak Djokovic tied Rafael Nadal's grounds of 22 expansive slam titles.

With Nadal boasting an unparalleled 14 titles astatine Roland-Garros, and Djokovic an awesome 7 titles connected the hallowed turf astatine Wimbledon - the conflict to apical the charts is definite to simmer passim 2023.

Masur was asked if Djokovic is the top tennis subordinate of each time, following his consecutive sets triumph implicit Stefanos Tsitsipas

"Not yet," helium told Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"Rafa's got 22 slams [as well]. I'm conscionable going to spell with the numbers.

Roland-Garros 2023. Every Match. Ad-free. Centre Court sum successful 4K UHD on Stan Sport

"You cannot comparison eras. Don't adjacent bother. It was each relative.

"So if helium (Djokovic) wins 23 slams and Rafa ends up with 22 - he's the greatest. If the other is existent - Rafa is the greatest."

Omitting precocious retired Swiss maestro Roger Federer from the conversation, Masur argued the numbers don't lie.

"He's sitting connected 20 (titles) - he's not there, and he's retired," helium said.

"You don't get points for grace successful my book. There are nary benignant points. It's not crystal skating.

"I'm conscionable going to spell purely with the numbers."

Djokovic opens up connected 'special' victory

Another erstwhile Australian star, Alicia Molik, said Djokovic would beryllium 2nd to nary by the extremity of his career.

Speaking connected Nine's Today, the erstwhile satellite No.8 said the Serbian was performing astatine a level supra the rest.

"I deliberation the commencement of galore more, helium is going to apical the charts and helium volition beryllium remembered arsenic the top of each time," she said.

King of Melbourne Park

"I inactive deliberation he's got 3 oregon 4 much [titles] near successful him, astatine least.

"Let's hold and spot but helium is dominating men's tennis."

Addressing the media post-match, Djokovic said helium was motivated to spell retired connected apical and was prepared to enactment successful the enactment to property on.

"Of course, I americium motivated to triumph arsenic galore slams arsenic possible," helium said.

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"At this signifier of my career, these trophies are the biggest motivational origin of wherefore I inactive compete. That's the lawsuit without a doubt.

"I ne'er truly liked comparing myself to others, but of course, it's a privilege to beryllium portion of the treatment arsenic 1 of the top players of each time. If radical spot maine this way, of course, it's precise flattering due to the fact that I cognize that I springiness arsenic overmuch effort and vigor into trying to triumph slams arsenic anybody else.

"I inactive person tons of motivation. Let's spot however acold it takes me. I truly don't privation to halt here. I don't person immoderate volition to halt here. I consciousness large astir my tennis. I cognize that erstwhile I'm feeling bully physically and mentally present, I person a accidental to triumph immoderate slam against anybody.

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"I similar my chances going forward. But, again, thing is fixed oregon thing is for granted. Of course, determination are a batch of players that privation this trophy oregon privation the No.1 presumption successful the world.

"I don't cognize however galore much years I'm going to play oregon however galore much slams I'm going to play.

"It depends connected assorted things. It doesn't beryllium lone connected my body. I deliberation it's highly important for maine to archetypal person the enactment and emotion from the adjacent ones, and the quality to spell and play and support the equilibrium with my backstage life, but astatine the aforesaid clip person the intelligence clarity oregon aspirations to truly strive to pursuit these trophies.

"Physically I tin support myself fit. Of course, 35 is not 25, adjacent though I privation to judge it is. But I inactive consciousness determination is clip up of me. Let's spot however acold I go."

So, portion immoderate tennis fans are anxious to stick a sanction to the top ever tag, it seems only the passing of clip tin settee this one.

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