Mats Wilander says it ‘does not matter’ which of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic wins the GOAT race

Mats Wilander says he ‘does not really matter’ who will win the GOAT race between Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Those three giants have been battling it out for dominance on the ATP Tour for a decade and a half in various different combinations, with Nadal and Djokovic currently going toe-to-toe.

Many believe the issue will be ultimately decided by who finishes their careers with the most Grand Slam titles, with Rafael Nadal currently lead that metric with 22. Novak Djokovic is just one behind while Roger Federer is unlikely to add to his 20.

Fans often spend time debating just which one of the three is the greatest of all time, and Mats Wilander believes those who do are missing the point entire – because it is what they have produced together that really counts for the most.

“Well, I mean, on paper it means Federer at 20, Novak on 21 and Rafa at 22 and I would have said a couple of years ago numbers were very important but it seems like the last couple of years, we have to start talking about momentum in their careers,” Wilander told Eurosport.

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“And after Novak Djokovic won three of the four Slams last year and had a chance to win the Calendar Grand Slam and go to 21 Grand Slam victories, didn’t, lost to Medvedev, then Rafa against all odds wins the Australian Open goes to 21. After that, of course, he’s going to win the French Open, goes to 22. So I think here is momentum.

“The question here is for Novak, is he allowed to go and play the US Open because of the vaccination status that’s very important.

“Should this really matter in the end, who wins the GOAT race? Who is the greatest of all time? All three have had their three or four years when they have dominated. Now they’re going back and forth with Rafa and Novak so we we’re just so privileged to be a part of it.

“To me personally, I don’t care who end up with the most Slams. We are going to define this as best three tennis players on the men’s side of the sport.”