11 stars who played Federer, Nadal and Djokovic name their tennis GOAT

Top players who knew exactly what it was like to face Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had had their say.

It’s the debate that continues to divide the tennis world, even after one man has set himself apart with the numbers. For years, fans, pundits and players alike have disputed whether Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic is the true Greatest of All Time. Federer was the first to hit 20 Major titles, and Nadal was the first to surpass him and get to 22. But Djokovic now stands alone with 24. He’s also spent a record 428 weeks at No. 1 in the world, and has won everything possible – Grand Slams, Olympic gold, ATP Finals, Masters 1000s, ATP 500s and 250s.

While Djokovic is undoubtedly the best according to the record books, some have other measures of who is the ‘best’. And those who have faced all of the Big Three have a unique perspective when it comes to determining the GOAT. Express Sport takes a look at 11 players who have played Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – and who they believe is the greatest.

Andy Murray

Murray is arguably the man who has the most experience against the Big Three, and therefore is the best to end the GOAT debate. The Brit won three Major titles and two Olympic gold medals, and reached world No. 1 in the Big Three era. He even classed alongside them within the ‘Big Four’. And when Murray began coaching Djokovic ahead of the 2025 season, he said the Serb was potentially the greatest athlete of all time, tennis aside. “Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records that he's achieved. These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time,” he said. (Image: Getty)

Stan Wawrinka

Like Murray, Swiss star Wawrinka won three Grand Slam titles during the Big Three’s prime. He beat Djokovic and Nadal in those Major finals, and earned wins over all three men. And the newly retired world No. 3 believes Djokovic is the GOAT in numbers, but Nadal is the toughest opponent. “At the end of the day, the strongest player in history is Novak Djokovic – by a huge margin. What he has done over the years is unbelievable. He has broken all records and continues to compete at the highest level,” he said on the First & Red podcast. “The most difficult opponent was Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, especially in the fifth set. His career speaks for itself. Playing him in Paris, on clay, in those conditions, was the toughest challenge in tennis for me.” (Image: Getty)

Daniil Medvedev

When Medvedev reached No. 1 in the world in February 2022, he ended the Big Four’s 18-year reign at the top of the rankings, and became the first man not named Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray to be No. 1 since 2004. And after beating Djokovic to win his first Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open, the Russian told his opponent: “I have never said this to anybody, but I will say it right now. For me, you are the greatest player in the history.” (Image: Getty)

Milos Raonic

The retired Canadian beat Federer to reach his only Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2016 and recorded two other wins against the 20-time Major champion, as well as two wins against Nadal. Raonic never beat Djokovic, though, and recently told The Times: “He was the best at neutralising my serve, so my biggest weapon. “And then, one thing that’s probably counterintuitive, he played, for somebody as great as he is, through the middle of the court. Most people, when you watch tennis, you’re like, ‘Look how well they hit that winner down the line or cross-court or how they created that angle’. He played down the middle, so my angles just felt much smaller. It was like a pressure-cooker.” (Image: Getty)

Diego Schwartzman

The former world No. 8 never beat Federer or Djokovic, but stunned Nadal on the clay in Rome and gave him some trouble at Roland Garros, too. However, Schwartzman also believes the Spaniard is the best. Last year, he told ESPN: “I think Rafa, of the three, is the one who commands the most respect when you enter the court. It’s like you enter the court a little more defeated.” (Image: Getty)

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