Infographic: Who is the greatest men’s tennis player of this generation?
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer
The debate to decide the best tennis player of this generation has been raging on for quite some time among tennis fans. While some give the edge to the class and consistency that Roger Federer has maintained, others give greater credence to the high stamina and never-say-die attitude of Rafael Nadal as a mark of greatness. Then there is Novak Djokovic, who has produced seasons of excellence to challenge the cream of men’s tennis.
This leads us to the question: what is it that makes a player the best in a generation? Is it the number one rank, the number of Grand Slam titles or the consistency?
I believe that the following criteria would help to determine the best from the rest:
1) All-round player (record on all surfaces): This would include number of titles on different surfaces along with the win-loss percentage.
2) Record against the top 10 in the world: Whatever be the player’s ranking, a win against a top 10 player always counts as a major triumph. This shows the ability to overcome the top players in the game.
3) Weeks at Number 1: This would help to judge the longevity and consistency of the player.
4) Grand Slam and Masters titles: Winning a Slam or Masters title requires consistency and replicating it is no mean feat.
For my analysis, I have considered only three players – Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Despite there being other players who have remained in the top rung of world tennis for quite some time, it can be safely assumed that their records don’t compare with these three.
Before I lay down the stats, I want to assure the reader that considering a player better than the other in no way diminishes the accomplishments of any player. This is just a harmless exercise to determine the relative places of these three gentlemen in the pantheon of all-time greats. No one is denying that all three of them are 100% certifiable legends in their own right.
Looking at the above infographic, some notable points for all three players:
Roger Federer
- A whopping 78 titles in total (mainly on hardcourts and grass). The number of titles on grass despite the short season shows Federer’s dominance on the surface (also visible from the win-loss percentage).
- Number of weeks at the top along with the number of Slams certainly highlights the longevity and consistency of the Swiss maestro.
- A lopsided head-to-head against Rafael Nadal diminishes his claim a little.
- Less titles on clay.
Rafael Nadal
- An impressive record on clay with a 93% win-loss record, along with almost 70% titles on clay. One of the best clay court players ever.
- A positive head-to-head against both Federer and Djokovic.
- Less titles on other surfaces as compared to the other two.
- 124 wins against top 10 players along with 131 weeks at number 1 is no mean feat.
Novak Djokovic
- Almost 80% of titles and the best win-loss record on hardcourts. One of the best exponents of hardcourt tennis of this generation.
- Something not visible from the infographic is that Djokovic has won 8 of the 9 Masters series tournaments.
- A negative head-to-head against Nadal and Federer.
- As compared to the other two, lesser number of top 10 wins and titles.
Conclusion
Looking at the stats, my conclusion is that Roger Federer can be considered as the best player of this generation. That said, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are not far behind, and can certainly challenge the records set by Federer if they remain at the top of their game for a few more years.
*All stats updated up to the Monte Carlo Masters 2014.
*Source of information: www.atpworldtour.com