Rafael Nadal recently stated that Novak Djokovic could become the best tennis player of all time, thanks to staying healthy.
The greatest of all time (GOAT) debate has always been a very polarizing topic. Throughout the years, many chose different metrics of how to measure greatness, and also, in the previous years, it was not clear who would end up as the most successful statistically.
One thing that many seemed to be able to agree on was Roger Federer's impact on the game and the incredibly beautiful way how he played the sport. However, he fell short of the achievements of his two rivals.
For a moment in 2022, Nadal led the so-called 'GOAT Race,' having two more major titles than his rivals, when he won the 2022 Roland Garros, which was his 14th title in the French capital, but also 22 Grand Slam overall.
However, a couple of years later, the statistical leader is undisputed. Djokovic has the most Grand Slam titles, most weeks as the World No. 1 player, male or female, most ATP Masters 1000 titles, and countless other achievements.
As of recently, Djokovic is also an Olympic gold medalist, and he's basically done it all. In a recent interview with Spanish publication AS, probably his greatest rival, Nadal, recognized that the Serbian player was the best, as the numbers prove.
"In the end, he is a player who has managed to maintain a very high level of play and improve every year. The numbers say that he is the best, so his tennis level has also been the best."
However, Nadal also added that the reason why Djokovic could become as successful as he became is his fitness. The 37-year-old Serbian could avoid injuries throughout his career to a much greater extent than his one-year-old Spanish rival.
According to Nadal, being frequently injured doesn't affect the player only directly by missing time on the court but also indirectly. Every time he played, he had in his mind that he could get injured and approached the court more cautiously, which he explained by highlighting how Djokovic or the likes of Carlos Alcaraz slide on the hard court while he didn't do it so much.
"In addition, he is the one who has managed to stay the furthest away from injuries. When you have no limitations or major injuries that last for a long time, it not only affects you physically and gives you options to win, but it also generates a lack of fear on a mental level, neither of getting injured, nor of slipping when you reach a ball on a hard court."
"Djokovic runs on a hard court and slides here, slides there, just like Carlos does today. Because they are not afraid to do it yet and they can."
"I did it at the beginning of my career, but of course, when things happen, you just can't do it, so these are limitations that appear along the way and you have to look for shortcuts to continue being competitive in other ways."
Staying healthy helped Djokovic to maintain an edge over his rivals not just physically but also mentally for a much longer time, according to Nadal. However, the 22-time major winner refused to use that as an excuse, again stating that Djokovic is the best player.
"That has allowed Novak to maintain his physical, tennis and mental level for longer. It is not an excuse, thanks to that he is the best and he has really earned it."