The debate over who will end this golden era of men’s tennis with the most titles appears to be over, with Novak Djokovic’s relentless winning form ensuring he will finish ahead of his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Some would argue that statistics alone cannot end the GOAT debate, with Federer’s enduring popularity and his success in taking the game to a new level earning him support in the discussion over who is the greatest.
Meanwhile, Nadal’s 14 wins at the French Open is one of the greatest achievements in sport, with the Spaniard still threatening to return to action after a year on the sidelines with injury.
Now former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is now working as coach to world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz, has opened up on why Djokovic has cemented his legacy as the greatest player of them all, as he echoed the views of Nadal by suggesting his desire to re-write the history books was a factor in the longevity of his success.
“With Djokovic’s numbers there is no debate,” Ferrero told Marca as he was asked about the GOAT debate.
“You may like Rafa more, you may like Federer’s style more, but in terms of numbers, the best in history is Novak.
“I’m not surprised. He is a player who lives for and to play tennis and achieve results at the highest level.
“Everything he does is to be physically perfect, from food, to rest.”