Rafael Nadal

[alex peters]

Unbelievable it is!. Rafael Nadal wins his 14th French Open title at the age of 36 and his 22nd Grand Slam title.

Nadal's record at the French Open will never be matched or broken. It is unfathomable that a man could win a Grand Slam event 14 times but Nadal has done it.

Nadal is and for eternity will be the greatest clay court tennis player ever.

[soundchaser09]

Nadal is and always will be the greatest clay court tennis player of all time. With the Open era slam record on the mens side at #22, a case can be made for any of the so called big three as being the greatest IMO.

I am a fan of Federer myself and regard his career more highly as its more varied than Nadal's, with a record 8 Wimbledons and a record 5 US Opens, though he did not achieve as much as he should have on clay. I'd say Djokovic's successes are even more impressive than Federer's on some level, having the record weeks at number 1 and greater variety still in success on different surfaces.

[alex peters]

Nadal is and always will be the greatest clay court tennis player of all time. With the Open era slam record on the mens side at #22, a case can be made for any of the so called big three as being the greatest IMO.

I am a fan of Federer myself and regard his career more highly as its more varied than Nadal's, with a record 8 Wimbledons and a record 5 US Opens, though he did not achieve as much as he should have on clay. I'd say Djokovic's successes are even more impressive than Federer's on some level, having the record weeks at number 1 and greater variety still in success on different surfaces.

I agree. It is always difficult to figure who is the GOAT.

Different eras! Different equipment. In the era of Laver, Roswell, Newcombe and even the early Jimmy Connors it was wood rackets. How would these players today match up with the players of the 1960's and 1970's with the wooden rackets? Who knows!

Same with golf. How would Tiger play with the Persimmon woods and blade irons of the 1930's to 1980's? Who knows?

I will say the Era of the 1960's to the 1990's had better top players.

Tennis is in decline. Nadal wins a 2 week 5 set per match major tournament on clay over 2 weeks at the age of 36.

I dont think he could have done that in the era of the 1950's to 2000. There were too many young great players. 36 year olds did not win majors in that era