Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are a privilege for us all – Mats Wilander

 

Seven-time Grand slam champion Mats Wilander has said that Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are a privilege for us all. Both Nadal and Djokovic have dominated the tennis world in the last 15 years along with Roger Federer.

Nadal currently has the most number of slams as he has won 22 titles whereas Novak Djokovic recently won his 21st Major title when he won Wimbledon. This was the seventh title at SW19 for the Serbian.

Both Nadal and Djokovic are known for their impressive fitness and they are regarded as two of the best Tennis players in the history of the sport. Nadal and Djokovic have also shared an intense rivalry with each other, which has always kept the fans on the edge of their seats.

The duo recently met in the quarterfinal clash of the Roland Garros in which Nadal won in four sets to make his way into the semifinal and eventually went on to win his 14th French Open title.

Djokovic and Nadal have faced each other on 59 occasions out of which the former has won 30 matches whereas the latter has won 29 games.

“Well, I mean, on paper it means Federer at 20, Novak on 21 and Rafa at 22 and I would have said a couple of years ago numbers were very important but it seems like the last couple of years, we have to start talking about momentum in their careers,” Wilander told Eurosport.

“And after Novak Djokovic won three of the four Slams last year and had a chance to win the Calendar Grand Slam and go to 21 Grand Slam victories, didn’t, lost to Medvedev, then Rafa against all odds wins the Australian Open goes to 21. After that, of course, he’s going to win the French Open, goes to 22. So I think here is momentum.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is doubtful for US Open as he is unvaccinated against Covid-19. Djokovic has said that he wants to play everywhere in the world but he might not be allowed to enter the US.

“The question here is for Novak, is he allowed to go and play the US Open because of the vaccination status that’s very important. “Should this really matter in the end, who wins the GOAT race? Who is the greatest of all time? All three have had their three or four years when they have dominated. Now they’re going back and forth with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic so we we’re just so privileged to be a part of it. “

To me personally, I don’t care who end up with the most Slams. We are going to define this as best three tennis players on the men’s side of the sport.”