‘No. 1 forever!’ – Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer not on Rafael Nadal’s degree, states Ion Tiriac

Rafael Nadal is the ideal men’s participant to participate in the activity, that is in accordance to tennis legend Ion Tiriac.

Nadal sits on 22 Grand Slam titles, two distinct of fellow greats of the recreation, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who are tied on 20.

And the 83-12 months-old former French Open quarter-finalist and now businessman and mentor claimed that Nadal’s acquire at Roland-Garros – the 14th time he has won the French Open – further burnished his legend, putting him forward of Federer and Djokovic in the race to be acclaimed the GOAT.

“In the match in opposition to Djokovic, Nadal played very, extremely very well. Beating Djokovic, earth No. 1, in that way… No, Nadal is likely to be No. 1 in the environment eternally. You are unable to compare him. Neither with Federer, for me.”

Tiriac additional that Nadal’s haul of 14 titles at a single Grand Slam will unlikely at any time be surpassed, and he backed the 36-yr-old to declare – or attempt to – a 15th subsequent 12 months.

“You will hardly ever see, not even in your daily life nor in the everyday living of your children, anyone profitable a Grand Slam event 14 situations. Or 15. Mainly because I’m absolutely sure he’s likely to check out up coming calendar year.”

“I failed to look at the last, I watched the quarter-ultimate [against Djokovic] a bit ahead of I went to sleep,” Federer claimed.

“In basic, it’s just unbelievable what Rafa has realized. The history of Pete Sampras, which I beat, was 14 Grand Slam titles.

“Now Rafa received the French Open 14 situations. That is unbelievable. I was happy for him that he did it all over again.

“Hats off to Rafa. Immediately after the 10th, 11th time, I already thought: ‘This are unable to be.’ He retains elevating the bar. It truly is gigantic.”

Federer is on the comeback path from injuries and has planned to play the Laver Cup in September and Basel in October.

– – –