Paris: Rafael Nadal’s win over Roger Federer in the French Open final will reignite the age-old debate about who is the greatest player of all time.
Both men are scathing of any such comparisons, but that will not stop the arguments which are set to escalate as Federer, approaching 30, enters the twilight of his career and 25-year-old Nadal, fitness permitting, enters the prime of his.
The Spaniard’s thrilling four sets win at Roland Garros means he now has 10 Grand Slam titles, with six French Opens, two Wimbledons, and one apiece at the US and Australian Opens.
He is now in sixth equal place on the all-time list level with 1920s American star Bill Tilden and just one behind legends Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg.
More pertinently he is now just six Grand Slam titles shy of the record currently held by Federer, who is five years older.
Having proved that he can play well and win on all surfaces, Nadal looks set to at least match Federer’s total which would give him a statistical argument to claim he is the best player ever.
Not that it seems to matter much to the player himself.
“When you talk about these statistics, when you try and make these comparisons, really it’s not very interesting to me,” he said.
“I’m very happy with what I have, with who I am. I’m not the best player in the history of tennis. I think I’m amongst the best. That’s true. That’s enough for me.”
Sentiments echoed by Federer, who long laid siege to Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles which he equalled with his crucial win in the 2009 French Open and then followed up by winning at Wimbledon the same year and at the Australian Open in 2010.
“Who cares where you stand,” he said.
“It’s when it’s over that you can’t do anything any longer, that’s when you’re proud of what you accomplished.
“That’s why I’m happy for him (Nadal) that he’s won these Grand Slams and these tournaments. He can prove to people that he can play a good type of tennis. This is what counts.”
If both men are unwilling to enter the debate, they certainly are acutely aware of the intensity of their rivalry, one of the greatest in the history of any sport.
To date the two have met an incredible 25 times, 14 of these on clay, since a teenage Nadal shocked Federer in straight sets on the Miami hardcourts in early 2004. (AFP)