For years, the tennis world has been captivated by the rivalry among Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, widely regarded as the “Big Three”. These three legends have dominated the sport, sparking endless debates about who deserves the title of the greatest male tennis player of all time.
Martina Navratilova, a former world No. 1 with numerous Grand Slam titles to her name, shared her perspective on the matter in a 2012 interview. At the time, she leaned towards Federer as the greatest but acknowledged that Nadal and Djokovic were closing the gap.
“Federer is considered the best alongside Rod Laver. At this moment, Federer may be the greatest of all time, but Nadal could be the best player between the two. It’s just an extraordinary era in men’s tennis,” Navratilova stated during an interview with Laureus.com.
She also highlighted the potential for Nadal and Djokovic to surpass Federer’s legacy, noting their incredible consistency and rivalry. “The matchup we see most often now is Djokovic versus Nadal. We’re watching three of the greatest tennis players of all time competing simultaneously. If Djokovic continues at this pace, he’ll definitely be in the conversation, as will Nadal,” she added.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia; Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland on stage during the ATP Heritage Celebration. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Navratilova also touched on why Andy Murray struggled to join the elite trio. “He’s not quite in that fight. He’s reached some semifinals and a couple of finals, but Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer are just on another level”.
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Navratilova’s tribute to Federer on his retirement
When Roger Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis, Navratilova expressed her admiration and gratitude through a heartfelt social media post. “What a heartfelt message, filled with love, life, hope, passion, and gratitude. That’s exactly how Roger played the game we all love. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the magic!” she wrote.
Navratilova’s unparalleled career
Martina Navratilova’s illustrious career stands as a testament to her dominance in the sport. Winning an astonishing 59 Grand Slam titles across singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, she remains one of the most accomplished players in tennis history.
In singles, Navratilova claimed 18 Grand Slam titles. Her partnership with Pam Shriver in women’s doubles earned her 31 major victories, while she added another 10 titles in mixed doubles. Her versatility and longevity in the sport are unmatched, as she reached the pinnacle of the WTA rankings in both singles and doubles.
Of her 59 Grand Slam titles, 12 came at the Australian Open, 11 at Roland Garros, 20 at Wimbledon, and 16 at the US Open. Navratilova’s legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats remains secure, a fitting counterpart to her insightful views on today’s legends.
