Players who competed against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have given their verdicts on who is the greatest of all time. While Djokovic leads on numbers with 24 Major titles and a record 428 weeks at world No. 1, several former rivals have offered different perspectives based on their own experiences.
Murray and Wawrinka back Djokovic
Andy Murray, who coached Djokovic from the 2025 season, said the Serb was potentially the greatest athlete of all time, beyond tennis. "Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records that he's achieved. These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time," he said.
Stan Wawrinka, who won three Grand Slam titles during the Big Three's prime, also named Djokovic as the strongest player in history, though he singled out Nadal as his toughest challenge. "At the end of the day, the strongest player in history is Novak Djokovic – by a huge margin. What he has done over the years is unbelievable. He has broken all records and continues to compete at the highest level," he said. "The most difficult opponent was Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, especially in the fifth set."
Medvedev and Raonic on Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev, after beating Djokovic to win his first Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open, told his opponent: "For me, you are the greatest player in the history." Milos Raonic, who never beat Djokovic, described his style as uniquely difficult to counter.
Schwartzman picks Nadal
Diego Schwartzman, who beat Nadal on clay in Rome, said the Spaniard commands the most respect on court. "I think Rafa, of the three, is the one who commands the most respect when you enter the court," he said.
