Roger Federer retired with fewer Grand Slam titles than Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but Ion Tiriac believes he’s unique in one way.
Many people still miss Federer’s elegant tennis style on the ATP Tour. His graceful play attracted millions of fans around the world, bringing new viewers to tennis.
Federer won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon over 21 years ago by defeating Andy Roddick. He recently talked about how important that win was for his future success at SW19 .
His rivalries with Nadal and Djokovic are legendary. The 2007 and 2008 Wimbledon finals against Nadal, as well as the 2014 and 2019 finals against Djokovic in London, are some of the best Grand Slam matches ever.
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Iconic Rivalries:
Federer is closer to Nadal than Djokovic, so it wasn’t surprising when he expressed concern for Nadal’s recent injuries. Despite being loved by many, some fans consider Federer only the third greatest player ever because Djokovic and Nadal have more Grand Slams. Djokovic holds a record 24 major titles, matching Margaret Court’s overall record.
Some argue that greatness isn’t just about numbers. Federer’s elegant style makes him special, even earning respect from some Nadal and Djokovic fans who find him the most watchable player among them.
Ion Tiriac recently compared Federer to his rivals and said Federer stands apart in one area but wasn’t as physically strong as them.
“Actually, I know very little about Roger Federer but he always respected me. Like the other stars on the tour, he calls me the chef. I sincerely think that he is really a category apart if we compare him to Nadal or Djokovic for example.”
“He’s a player who invented things on a tennis court that didn’t exist. Physically, he was always a little below Djokovic and Nadal, but the talent he had in his hands is a certainty.”
Tiriac’s comments are interesting given his deep involvement in tennis through various businesses. He also mentioned how people are making too much of Carlos Alcaraz early in his career.
Fans might agree with Tiriac because of Djokovic’s stamina and Nadal’s powerful build . However, even during tough five-set losses against them, Federer’s endurance was never an issue; this could make others disagree with Tiriac’s view on physicality.
The debates about different aspects of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic’s rivalry will go on for years. Tennis fans were lucky to see these legends compete against each other for so long.
What do you think? Is Federer truly unique despite having fewer titles?
