Roger Federer is the GOAT based on the overall impact he has had on tennis, says Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas recently picked Roger Federer over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debate. Tsitsipas believes the best player of all time cannot be decided merely by the number of Grand Slams won.
Speaking to Marca ahead of his campaign start at the 2023 Madrid Open, the Barcelona Open runner-up was probed on his thoughts about the raging GOAT debate. Tsitsipas, a long-time self-professed Federer fan, picked the Swiss on the ground that the best player in history has to be the one who attracted the most fans to tennis and the one who made them enjoy it the most.
Tsitsipas feels that 20-time Slam champion Federer has an edge over 22-time Major winners Nadal and Djokovic, but added that Nadal would come next in the list for him personally.
"For me the best in history is not based on the titles, the number of Grand Slams or the number of matches you have won. The GOAT has to be the player who has attracted the most fans to a tennis court, the one who has inspired people the most to do something useful with their lives, the person who has made them enjoy the most. If we summarize all this in someone, that someone is Roger Federer. I stay with him and then I would say Rafa Nadal," Stefanos Tsitsipas said.
The Greek also spoke about the impact he himself has had on tennis in his home country. Tsitsipas stated that he and compatriot Maria Sakkari were glad to have put Greece on the world tennis map in recent times.
Tsitsipas hopes that more challengers and maybe even an ATP event would be organized there in the coming years, as he feels it would boost the popularity of the sport in his country even further.
"I don't really know because I haven't been to my country for a long time. What is certain is that there are more outdoor tennis courts and that allows for more players," Tsitsipas said. "I am glad to have contributed to it together with Maria. In order to continue growing, I hope that in the coming years challengers tournaments will be organized and, if possible, an ATP, which would be something incredible for our sport."
"I consider myself one of the candidates here in Madrid" - Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas then spoke about his 2023 Madrid Open chances. The Greek feels he himself is one of the favorites, especially coming off his runner-up run at the Barcelona Open last week (lost to Carlos Alcaraz).
Tsitsipas stated that the result has boosted his confidence, which he felt was much needed for him as he hadn't reached a final since the Australian Open.
"I've played quite a few games so I'm happy. I consider myself one of the candidates here in Madrid. The result in Barcelona has restored my confidence because I had not been in a final since the Australian Open," Stefanos Tsitsipas said.
Following a bye in the first round, the 24-year-old could face former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem in the second round of the Masters 1000 event.