Roger Federer ended his career with fewer Grand Slams than Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but Ion Tiriac thinks he is still a category apart from his rivals in one particular aspect.
Although tennis is in a great place, many continue to miss Federer on the ATP Tour. His uniquely graceful style of tennis was adored by millions of fans worldwide, attracting countless new viewers to the sport.
The Swiss maestro won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon over 21 years ago. He beat Andy Roddick in the final, and Federer recently outlined the significance of that triumph in helping to create his future successes at SW19.
Federer's rivalries with Nadal and Djokovic were legendary. His 2007 and 2008 Wimbledon finals against Nadal and 2014 and 2019 finals in London against Djokovic are among the best Grand Slam finals.
It is no secret Federer shares a closer bond with Nadal than Djokovic. Hence, it was no surprise that the 20-time major champion was concerned by Nadal's recent physical issues and wanted him to be healthy.
Despite how loved Federer is, many fans consider him the third greatest player ever because Djokovic and Nadal secured more Grand Slams. Djokovic holds the men's record at 24 major titles, equaling Margaret Court's overall record.
Others think the GOAT debate is not just about numbers and argue Federer winning so many titles with such a graceful style makes him the best. Even some Nadal and Djokovic fans acknowledge the Swiss was the most watchable of the three players.
Tiriac compared Federer to Nadal and Djokovic in recent comments given to We Love Tennis. The Romanian former player and current businessman said Federer was a category apart in one area, but he was not at the same physical level as his rivals.
"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."
These are interesting remarks from Tiriac. The 85-year-old former player is very interested in the sport through different businesses and his comments. He also recently commented on tennis making too much of Carlos Alcaraz at such an early stage of his career.
Djokovic's incredible stamina and Nadal's muscular and imposing physical build could explain Tiriac's comments and make fans agree with him.
However, even in tough five-set losses Federer experienced against Nadal and Djokovic, they were never because the eight-time Wimbledon champion ran out of legs, meaning some may disagree that he lacked physically compared to his rivals.
The debates around different aspects of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic's rivalry will continue for years to come. Tennis fans were blessed to have them competing against each other for so many years.
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