It was only natural that the Serbian, youngest of the trio, would be the last one still playing, but it still seems sad to see him left without his two biggest rivals.

However, one player who’s been supremely complimentary about all three of them has admitted that Rafael Nadal and Federer cannot compete with Novak Djokovic‘s legacy.

Mats Wilander praises Novak Djokovic’s legacy vs Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s

Speaking to Eurosport, Mats Wilander sought to divert attention away from Nadal, instead using his retirement to uplift Djokovic. He noted: ’I think Novak is on a different journey than worrying about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a way.

‘He surpassed them in Grand Slam victories and pretty much in every record that is worth counting. So I think that there’s no threat, obviously, from Rafael Nadal to Novak Djokovic. At least, I don’t think so now.

‘I think Novak has told us all, ‘Hey, I want to keep playing because these guys, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik [Sinner] and the rest, they are so good, and are pushing me to be better and better and better’.

‘Maybe he’s not better than he used to be, but to him, he’s putting out his best every single day, and he’s able to do that even after having knee surgery.’

The former world number one then continued: ‘I think Novak will feel so proud.

‘I mean, sad in a way, but he lived through the storm. Yes, he’s younger than both Roger and Rafa, and Andy [Murray] and him, I think, are the same age or pretty close, but he survived it all.

‘He is the winningest male tennis player ever. I think he would just be proud.

‘I think he sees it more than anyone, the effect that Federer and Nadal have had on Alcaraz and Sinner and the guys behind him.

‘I think Novak has felt the effect of the big two, Rafa and Roger, more than any player. That’s going to make him feel so good because he was part of that. And the effect of Novak is very clear when it comes to the physicality of all the players today.’

Novak Djokovic’s titles far outweigh Nadal and Federer

Unfortunately for Nadal and Federer, but as they will both well know, Djokovic’s titles do far outweigh their accomplishments.

After all, on Grand Slams alone, he is indisputably the greatest male of all time, having won 24.

He also remains the only male to have won all non Masters 1000 events too.

However, there are a few records he will hope to pass before following in Federer and Nadal’s footsteps and retiring.

After all, the former still holds the most ATP titles of all time with 103, just four more than Djokovic.

Not to mention that one more Grand Slam would see him move ahead of Margaret Court as the standalone greatest of all time at Majors.

These will be factors that will surely drive this legendary competitor on to many more years at the top level.

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