Rafael Nadal has stirred debate after omitting longtime rival Roger Federer from his personal top 10 greatest athletes of all time, selecting Novak Djokovic instead. The Spaniard made the revelation in a video for Netflix Sports, where he listed his choices: Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Novak Djokovic, Muhammad Ali, Michael Schumacher, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Diego Maradona, and Pele.
Nadal's List Excludes Federer
The omission of Federer is notable given their historic rivalry, which produced one of the most celebrated matches in tennis history—the 2008 Wimbledon final. Nadal defeated Federer in a rain-interrupted five-set thriller, ending the Swiss star's streak of five consecutive Wimbledon titles. Now, Nadal appears to have edged past his old foe once more by including Djokovic, the other member of tennis' Big Three.
The Big Three's Dominance
Collectively, Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal have won an extraordinary 66 Grand Slam titles, earned over £350 million in prize money, and spent a combined 947 weeks as world No. 1. Federer was the first to break through, winning his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003 and later surpassing Pete Sampras' record of 14 major titles. He retired in 2022, but many of his records have since been broken by his rivals.
Djokovic now leads with a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, followed by Nadal with 22 and Federer with 20. The Serbian also holds Olympic gold, a record 40 Masters titles, and is the only player to complete a Triple Career Grand Slam. Unlike Federer and Nadal, who retired in 2022 and 2024 respectively, Djokovic continues to compete at the highest level, pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Reigniting the GOAT Debate
Nadal's choices are likely to reignite the perpetual debate over who deserves recognition as the greatest men's tennis player in history. Fans remain divided, with each member of the Big Three boasting unique achievements. Nadal's list, however, places Djokovic above Federer, adding fuel to an already intense discussion.
