Tennis journalist Chris Bowers weighed in on Novak Djokovic’s claim as the greatest of all time (GOAT) within the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal era, suggesting that Djokovic’s standing wasn’t as formidable as it could have been due to his lower level of popularity compared to his two illustrious rivals.
During the early 2000s, Federer and Nadal captivated tennis fans worldwide with their captivating rivalry, cementing themselves as the sport’s beloved duo. Their dominance was highlighted by an impressive streak of 11 consecutive Major victories, spanning from the 2005 French Open to the 2007 US Open.
However, Djokovic’s emergence onto the scene altered the dynamic, securing his first Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open and ascending to the prestigious rank of World No. 3.
Yet, despite his remarkable achievements, some fans struggled to embrace a third player disrupting the established harmony of the Federer-Nadal narrative.
During an appearance on the ‘Tennis Channel Inside-In’ podcast, Chris Bowers delved into how Djokovic’s claim in the GOAT conversation was impacted by Federer and Nadal’s popularity.
“That’s the tragedy of [Novak] Djokovic. He is less understood because he is not popular, perhaps because he is the third man in the two-man show,” Bowers remarked. “People love the [Roger] Federer-[Rafael] Nadal rivalry, and Djokovic was a slight interloper in that respect and ended up achieving more,” he continued.
Collectively, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have amassed an astonishing total of 66 Grand Slam titles, with Djokovic leading the trio with 24 titles, closely trailed by Nadal with 22 and Federer with 20.
