Hartfield: Djokovic’s Win Over Nadal and Federer Solidify Legacy
Former Argentine tennis player Diego Hartfield has shared his perspective on the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debate between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Hartfield explained why he rated the Serb higher than his arch-rivals.
Although Hartfield, who retired from professional tennis in 2010, never faced Nadal or Djokovic during his career, he did have experience competing against the Swiss legend. The Argentine battled Federer at the 2006 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open, losing in straight sets on both occasions.
In a recent interview, Diego Hartfield expressed his belief that Grand Slam titles were the ultimate measure in the GOAT debate, giving the edge to Novak Djokovic for his 24 Major titles compared to Roger Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (22).
The Argentine also argued that the Serb’s accomplishments were particularly impressive because he won the majority of his Major titles competing against Federer and Nadal. In contrast, Hartfield suggested that the Swiss didn’t face the same level of competition before the rise of his arch-rivals.
For comparison’s sake, Djokovic faced Federer in five Grand Slam finals, beating the Swiss in four of those matches. The Serb also squared off against Nadal in nine Major finals, with the Spaniard enjoying a 5-4 winning record. Roger Federer, meanwhile, locked horns with Rafael Nadal in eight title clashes at Grand Slams, losing on six of those occasions.
