Who Reigns Supreme: Naivo Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal in the Current Tennis Era?
The debate over who is the greatest of the Big Three in tennis remains a subject of fierce contention. The last five years have seen a notable shift in the landscape, with Novak Djokovic emerging as the dominant force among the trio. Let's delve into their Grand Slam achievements during this period and the overall statistics to understand their impact on the tennis world.
Grand Slam Achievements from 2018 to 2022
Considering the Grand Slam tournaments that took place from January 2018 to December 2022, the following are the achievements of each player:
Roger Federer
1 Australian Open 1 ATP 1000 Major 8 ATP titlesRoger Federer
Rafois Nadal
1 Australian Open 4 French Open (Roland Garros) 1 US Open 6 ATP 1000 Masters 17 ATP titlesRafois Nadal
Novak Djokovic
3 Australian Open 1 French Open (Roland Garros) 4 Wimbledon 1 US Open 8 ATP 1000 Masters 1 ATP World Tour Finals 23 ATP titlesNovak Djokovic
Comparative Analysis
Djokovic's Alarming Dominance
9 out of 19 Grand Slams (3 Australian Opens, 1 French Open, 4 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
23 ATP titles, including 8 ATP 1000 Masters (6 more than Nadal)
100 win record in Wimbledon since 2018 and 50 win record in Australian Open since 2019
Victory over Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final, considered one of the most significant matches in tennis history
4–1 head-to-head record with Federer since 2018
Inflicted Nadal's only loss at Roland Garros in 2018
Maintained a head-to-head record of 4–5 with Nadal since 2018
Federer’s Challenges
Minimal play post-pandemic, leading to a congested 4–1 head-to-head record with Djokovic
Overall Statistics from 2017 to 2022
For a comprehensive analysis, let's evaluate the period from 2017 to 2022. The key statistics are as follows:
Djokovic: 22 titles, including 9 Grand Slams and 8 Masters 1000 tournaments 150 weeks at No.1 ranking, with a streak of 79 weeks leading into 2022 Nadal: 23 titles, including 8 Grand Slams and 8 Masters 1000 tournaments 68 weeks at No.1 ranking, with a streak of 26 weeks in 2017 ?Federer: 15 titles, including 3 Grand Slams and 4 Masters 1000 tournaments 8 weeks at No.1 ranking, sandwiched between Nadal’s rankings Remarkable comeback after injury, especially in the 2017 seasonImplications for the Future
Novak Djokovic has maintained his status as the dominant force, winning seven Grand Slams since 2018, including recent victories at the 2022 Australian Open and Wimbledon. His consistent performance has solidified his position as the king of the 2010s and the 2020s. While Nadal continues to challenge him, his recent ban from playing in Australia and the US due to vaccination status may impact his future participation.
Roger Federer, although retired, remains a shining light in the history of tennis. His comeback in 2017 stands as one of the most impressive in tennis history, proving his enduring impact on the sport.