‘I played against Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – I | Sports News

The tennis world has long been embroiled in a debate over who’s the superior participant amongst Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic has managed to determine himself because the undisputed GOAT in phrases of statistics – boasting 24 Grand Slam titles, a number of victories at each Masters 1000 match, and an spectacular 428 weeks at No. 1 on the planet.

However, in terms of on-courtroom prowess, some of the Big Three’s former opponents have their own views. According to ex-world No. 15 Juan Ignacio Chela, one participant emerged as the best attributable to his “talent and class.”

Chela did not fare properly against any of the three former world No. 1s, ending with a 0-2 report against Djokovic, 0-6 against Federer, and 1-4 against Nadal. His solely victory got here on the 2004 Cincinnati Open, the place he clinched the match in a last set tiebreak.

Despite all three dominating the game for years, profitable main titles and making life tough for different gamers, the Argentine believed Federer was the toughest to defeat.

“Roger’s performance was impressive. For me… the thing is that they surpassed him in numbers, but for me, he’s the greatest,” he shared with La Nacion.

“On top of that, I experienced it firsthand: I’d go into the game and… I mean, I beat Rafa once, [Andy] Murray too, but not Nole, but I had match point. I only won a set against Roger once in Miami, but I couldn’t stay on the court.

“I was a participant who needed rhythm, I needed to get to the sixth or eighth ball, however I could not do it with Roger. He’d take me off the baseline, he’d make a great serve, he’d hit a drop shot, he’d come at me on a return, or he’d take time together with his forehand and then he’d take me off the courtroom.

“Besides, if you ask me to tell ChatGPT to make me the ideal tennis player, I think it makes Roger. Then the others (Djokovic and Nadal) surpassed him in numbers, with other characteristics, but I think no one else has Federer’s ease, talent and class.”

Nevertheless, the statistics converse for themselves, and Chela acknowledged that Djokovic’s magnificence could not be questioned. The six-time tour title winner continued: “Yeah, he’s the greatest. In numbers… It’s like they’re three superheroes with different powers.

“In my time, [Pete] Sampras had received 14 Grand Slams, and it appeared inconceivable for anybody to catch him. And different legends had, I do not know, eight, 9, six, seven Grand Slams. These guys handed 20. It’s loopy.”

Chela superior to a few Grand Slam quarterfinals, twice on the French Open in 2004 and 2011, and as soon as on the US Open in 2007. He by no means encountered Federer, Nadal or Djokovic on the Majors, however that they had ample clashes at Masters 1000 tournaments and in championship matches.