The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate has always been a conversation among fans, experts, and former players in the world of tennis to ascertain who can be termed as the best player to grace the courts across generations. For the last 20 years, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have been in contention for the title of GOAT in tennis.

Roger Federer set the benchmark in men’s tennis by becoming the first to win 20 Majors. But two of his greatest Rivals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic surpassed his record, winning 22 and 24 Major titles respectively.

14-time Major Champion and tennis legend Pete Sampras has often weighed in on the GOAT debate from time to time. Back in 2009, when Federer won his 15th Major title at Wimbledon to surpass Sampras, the American thought that the Swiss player was definitely in contention for being the World’s greatest ever, but his inferior record against longtime rival Rafael Nadal was one thing that Federer had to improve upon.

“To be considered the greatest ever, he certainly in my book is. But he has to figure this kid out. He has to beat him. He’s lost to him a number of times. You know, you got to be the man of your generation. He certainly is the man of his generation; he just has to figure out Nadal.” said Sampras in an interview (via insidetennis.com)

Back then, the head-to-head between Federer and Nadal was 7-13 in favor of the Spaniard. The Swiss legend retired with a 16-24 record against his Spanish rival.

When revisiting the issue in 2013 in an interview with thetennisspace.com, Sampras pushed the case forward for Nadal even more. He lavished praise on Federer’s achievements (the Swiss had 17 Majors at that time) but stated that Nadal’s form could take the Spaniard ahead of the Swiss’s tally of Majors (Nadal had 13 Majors at that point). The American also pointed out the Spaniard’s Davis Cup success.

“It’s always been so clear to me that Roger is the greatest. But I would say that, with Rafa doing what he’s been doing, he has an argument to be in the conversation. Rafa isn’t done yet. He could win more majors. He’s got a winning record against everyone that he has played in his generation. He’s won the Davis Cup, he’s won the Olympics.” said Sampras (via tennis-x.com)

Federer did win the Davis Cup title for Switzerland in the following year in 2014, but the Olympic gold medal was something that the Swiss Icon could not win in his illustrious career.

“It’s a clear sign that he is the greatest of all time”- When Sampras claimed Novak Djokovic to be the GOAT

In 2021, Pete Sampras voiced his support for Novak Djokovic, stating the Serb was the greatest of all time. Sampras drew attention to the fact that the Serbian Superstar had finished as the year-end No. 1 for seven years while winning a substantial amount of Majors (at that time Djokovic had 20 Majors).

Sampras stated that these accomplishments put Djokovic ahead of Federer and Nadal.

“But I think he will appreciate it more as he gets older. He did it at a time where he dominated two of the greats, in Roger and Rafa, and he handled the next generation of players very well- all at the same time… I do think what Novak’s done over the past 10 years, winning the Majors, being consistent, finishing number one for seven years, to me it’s a clear sign that he is the greatest of all time”, said Sampras (Via reuters.com)

In the last three years, Djokovic has scaled new heights in men’s tennis. He won four more Majors, taking his Major tally to 24, the highest for any male player, and winning three more ATP Masters titles, taking his Master’s tally to 40, which was the highest for any male player as well. The Serb completed his resume by winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.