Greg Rusedski: Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal 2022 ex aequo?
Greg Rusedski , formerly number four in the tennis world, has given The Age his take on the status quo of men's tennis. Rafael Nadal's victory in Melbourne would not have really diminished Novak Djokovic's chances of going down in history as the man with the most major titles.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Feb 03, 2022, 07:32 am
"This was, without a doubt, Rafael Nadal's greatest achievement in tennis," Greg Rusedski said in a post on The Age. It was an unbelievable final, one of the best in the history of the Grand Slams. Not only because of the stakes being so high, but also because of the level that the two finalists put on for over five hours at Rod Laver Arena.
Rusedski did not expect that the Spaniard Nadal would really be able to win this tournament: "A few months ago Rafa could hardly walk. Before that he had only won the Australian Open in 2009. Nobody would have thought that he would come to Melbourne , wins the tournament and wins 21 Slams ahead of Novak Djokovic," wrote the former fourth in the world rankings. But if you're looking for someone who will play for his life, you'll find him in the 35-year-old, emphasized Rusedski.
Djokovic for Rusedski the greatest
Today Rusedski describes his first encounter with the Manacor bull as "terrifying". At that time, the Briton had seen the 15-year-old Nadal train on clay court during an exhibition in Mallorca. An experience that seems to have left a lasting impression on the 48-year-old. At least that's what the Briton concludes: "You can imagine that it was like watching Cristiano Ronaldo or George Best play football for the first time. I just thought: 'Oh my God. I don't want to play that boy." I had never seen anything like that."
Unlike Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, with Nadal he was convinced from the start that this young Spaniard would do it once too much. "If you wanted to put your house on someone at a young age, it would have been Rafa." The Mallorcan kept this promise today, although Rusedski is still convinced "that Novak Djokovic will be considered the best in this era of tennis."
While Roger Federer only poses a real threat to the Brit in Wimbledon - and only if the Swiss body plays along - the former fourth in the world rankings predicts a great season for his two opponents in 2022 as well. "It could easily be that they both have 22 titles in the end, but I think Novak will go down in history as the greatest after last year's successes."