Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic: Big Three in Tennis Who Is The Best Of All Time?

Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic: Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal are the best tennis players of our time. Even people who don’t follow tennis know their names. Similarly, in football, there’s a debate about who’s better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. As a football fan, it was thrilling to see these two amazing players at the same time, and they made the sport very exciting.

[ays_poll id=96]


Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic:

Tennis is lucky to have three amazing players – Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal. These three players often dominated major tennis tournaments and brought joy to neutral spectators. But, Many people still wonder who’s the best of the three.

In this article, we’ll compare these tennis legends and ask you to share your opinion on who’s the greatest of all time. Each player has their unique style and strengths, and we’ll explore their achievements to help you to decide. So, be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!

Roger Federer:

Federer is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted and elegant players in tennis history. He held the record for the 3rd most Grand Slam titles (20) until 2021 when Djokovic surpassed him.

Federer has won Wimbledon a record 8 times, and he has spent a record 310 weeks as the world No. 1. His smooth playing style and versatility on all surfaces have earned him a devoted following.

He has an extraordinary career and has achieved almost every major title in tennis.

Federer began his professional journey in 1998 and won his first junior title at Wimbledon. The following year, he became one of the youngest players to enter the top 100 rankings.

In 2003, at the age of 21, Federer claimed his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon by defeating Mark Philippoussis in three sets. This victory propelled him to third place in the world rankings.

His most successful years were between 2004 and 2005, during which he won a total of 22 titles, including 5 Grand Slam titles. In early 2004, he achieved the top spot in the world rankings at the age of only 22.

Federer held the number-one ranking for an impressive 237 consecutive weeks.

In head-to-head comparisons with his closest competitors, Federer has a slightly lower win rate. He has lost 24 out of 40 matches against Nadal and 27 out of 50 matches against Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic:

The 36-year-old Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic, has an impressive career filled with records and titles. He has established himself as one of the most dominant players of the modern era. He has won 24 Grand Slam titles, the most in history.

Djokovic has achieved the career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments at least once. He has also held the year-end world No. 1 ranking a record-tying six times, alongside Pete Sampras. His incredible consistency and mental strength make him a formidable opponent.

He is currently considered the most successful tennis player in the world and continues to add to his collection of titles. He is on the brink of becoming the sole record holder for Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic started achieving success in 2006, winning tournaments in Metz and Amersfoort on the ATP tours. These victories propelled him into the top 20 rankings at the young age of 19.

In 2008, Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final. From then on, he consistently ranked among the top 3 players in the world.

In July 2011, Djokovic reached the number 1 ranking for the first time. He achieved this feat through ten final victories in eleven appearances, including wins at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Djokovic’s encounter with Rafael Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open final is legendary, lasting for an astonishing 5 hours and 53 minutes, making it the longest Grand Slam final in history. Djokovic emerged as the winner in the fifth set with a score of 7-5.

Novak Djokovic won his 21st Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open. He defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final, 7–5, 6–2, 6–2. This was Djokovic’s 9th Australian Open title, which is the most by any male player in history.

But Djokovic won the US Open in 2023, and now he has 24 Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal:

Rafael Nadal is a tennis superstar known for his amazing skills on clay courts. He has won the French Open a record 14 times, the most wins by any player in a single Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal’s success on clay courts is unmatched, earning him the nickname “King of Clay.” His powerful forehand and intense playing style make him a formidable opponent.

He is widely regarded as one of the most successful tennis players in the world. He started his tennis career at the young age of 15, with the strong support of his uncle, Toni Nadal.

Nadal won his first Grand Slam tournament, the French Open, in 2005, and continued his winning streak there until 2008. He also achieved success at Wimbledon in 2008, after narrowly missing out on the title in the previous two years against Roger Federer.

He holds the record for the most French Open titles, with an impressive 14 victories. This has earned him the title of the “best clay court player in history” or the “clay court king.” Nadal achieved an incredible winning streak of 81 consecutive matches on clay courts from 2005 to 2007.

Since his first ATP tournament win in 2004, Nadal has consistently won at least one tournament every year for 16 consecutive years. This surpasses his rival Roger Federer’s record of 15 consecutive years.

From 2005 to 2014, Nadal won at least one Grand Slam tournament for a remarkable ten years, a feat unmatched by any other tennis player.

Unfortunately, Nadal has faced many injuries throughout his career, which have affected his performance. In 2021, he had to end his season early due to a persistent foot injury, which has been a challenge for him.

Rafael Nadal won his 22nd Grand Slam title at the 2022 French Open. He defeated Casper Ruud in the final, 6–3, 6–3, 6–0. This was Nadal’s 14th French Open title, which is the most by any male player in history.

Nadal is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time. He has won 22 Grand Slam titles, 14 French Open titles, and 4 Australian Open titles. He is also a 2-time Olympic gold medalist.

Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic Head-To-Head Matchups

The head-to-head matchups between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are some of the most closely contested in tennis history. The all-time records are as follows:

Player Djokovic  Nadal  Federer Win % Finals Win %
Djokovic   30–29 27–23 57–52 (52.3%) 28–19 (59.6%)
Nadal 29–30   24–16 53–46 (53.5%) 27–25 (51.9%)
Federer 23–27 16–24   39–51 (43.3%) 16–27 (37.2%)
Source: Wikipedia

Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic ATP Masters Titles

Here is a comparison of the ATP Masters 1000 titles won by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic:

Tournament Djokovic Nadal Federer
Indian Wells Masters 5 3 5
Miami Open 6 0 4
Monte-Carlo Masters 2 11
Madrid Open 3 5 3
German Open 1 4
Italian Open 6 10
Canadian Open 4 5 2
Cincinnati Masters 3 1 7
Shanghai Masters 4 0 2
Paris Masters 7 0 1
Total 40 36 28

[ninja_charts id=”26″]


Djokovic has won most ATP Masters 1000 titles. It will be interesting to see who can break this record in the future.

Federer has won the most ATP Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells, Cincinnati, and Miami. Nadal has won the most ATP Masters 1000 titles at Monte Carlo and Rome. Djokovic has won the most ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami, Rome, and Paris.

Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic Results By Court Surface

Here is a comparison of the results between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic by court surface:

Player Hard Clay Grass
Matches W L % Matches W L % Matches W L %
Federer 58 29 29 50% 24 6 18 25% 8 4 4 50%
Nadal 47 16 31 34% 44 34 10 77% 8 3 5 38%
Djokovic 65 40 25 62% 36 12 24 33% 8 5 3 63%
Total 85 52 12
Source: Wikipedia

Djokovic has the most wins on hard courts, and grass courts while Nadal has the most wins on clay courts.

Overall Major Record Comparison Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic

Here is a comparison of the overall major records of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic:

Major Record  Djokovic  Nadal  Federer
Grand Slam 24 22 20
ATP Finals 6 6
ATP Masters 40 (9/9) 36 (7/9) 28 (7/9)
Olympics 1
Weeks as No. 1 387 209 310
Year-End No. 1 07 05 05
Big Titles 66 59 54
Overall Titles 98 92 103
Top 10 Victories 257 186 224
Head to Head 27–23 (F), 30–29 (N) 29–30 (D), 24–16 (F) 23–27 (D), 16–24 (N)
Source: Wikipedia

[ninja_charts id=”28″]


All three players are incredibly successful, with Nadal and Djokovic leading the way in terms of grand slam titles. Djokovic is the most successful player in terms of finals reached.

Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic National and International Representation

  Djokovic Nadal Federer
Olympic Games 16–10 16–4 20–7
Davis Cup 44–16 37–5 52–18
Hopman Cup 20–8 27–9
Laver Cup 2–3 3–4 8–4
ATP Cup 11–1 6–2
United Cup 3–1 0–2
Overall 96–39 62–17 107–38
Win % 71.1% 78.5% 73.8%
Years 2004–2024 2004–2023 1999–2022
Titles 3 8 8
Source: Wikipedia

Olympic Medal Record Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have achieved great things in their careers. They have proudly represented their countries in top-level competitions.

Big Three Prize Money
 Novak Djokovic Bronze Medal – 2008 Beijing Singles
 Rafael Nadal Gold Medal – 2008 Beijing Singles
Gold Medal – 2016 Rio De Janeiro Doubles
 Roger Federer Gold Medal – 2008 Beijing Doubles
Silver Medal – 2012 London Singles

Federer has competed for Switzerland in both the Olympics and the Davis Cup. He had a remarkable achievement in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics when he won a gold medal in doubles, And a Silver Medal in the 2012 London Olympics Singles.

Nadal has also made his mark in the Olympics, winning two gold medals. In 2008, at the Beijing Olympics, he triumphed in the singles category, showcasing his exceptional skills. Then, in 2016 at the Rio De Janeiro Olympics, he teamed up with another player to secure a gold medal in doubles.

Similarly, Djokovic has proudly represented Serbia in the Olympics. In 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, he earned a Bronze Medal for his outstanding performance.

These three incredible athletes have left a lasting impact on the world of tennis and have achieved remarkable feats throughout their careers.

Career Prize Money Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic

Here is a comparison of the career prize money of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic:

Big Three Prize Money
 Novak Djokovic $181,599,018
 Rafael Nadal $134,640,719
 Roger Federer $130,594,339

[ninja_charts id=”27″]


Novak Djokovic has earned the most career prize money of any tennis player in history. He is followed by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Conclusion

Determining the best among the “big three” is a difficult question to answer. Each of these players has set records that are unlikely to be surpassed.

Djokovic’s potential 24 Grand Slam wins Nadal’s 14 French Open victories, and Federer’s 237 consecutive weeks as the world number 1 are all remarkable achievements. Instead of arguing over who is the best, fans should simply appreciate the privilege of witnessing three exceptional tennis players of this caliber competing at the same time.

2 thoughts on “Federer Vs Nadal Vs Djokovic: Big Three in Tennis Who Is The Best Of All Time?”

  1. It says here that Federer holds record for most weeks spent at first place, which is definetly wrong, since Djokovic holds that recrod. He has been first for 400+weeks

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top