On the precipice of the greatest tennis era: Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer all sit with 20 slams

We are on the precipice of the greatest tennis era.

With a stunning victory over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, Novak Djokovic’s sixth Wimbledon title puts him on equal footing with Federer and Nadal at 20 grand slams, demonstrating why this is the greatest tennis generation ever.

Novak Djokovic said earlier this year, “we are the nextgen,” indicating the Big Three: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, along with himself. Of the last 60 slam titles, they have won an unprecedented 54 of them, 60 in total overall.

They have done this because they are simply the best the sport has ever seen.

“I have to pay a tribute to Rafa and Roger, they are legends of our sport,” Novak Djokovic said in his on-court interview, after defeating seventh seed Matteo Berrettini in four sets, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

“It means none of us three will stop,” Djokovic said about his two biggest rivals, Federer and Nadal. “They are the two most important players that I have ever faced in my career. They are the reason where I am today.”

It’s not that Berrettini played poorly, he fought in a spirited final, especially thrilling in a come-from-behind first set tiebreak . However, the Italian talent came up short in the end, as has so often happened among the younger generation when encountering the Big Three of tennis, most especially the dominant Serbian lately.

Djokovic’s accomplishments will overwhelmingly cast him as the definitive GOAT. The argument will passionately continue among his, Rafa, and Fed fans, based also on style of play, sportsmanship, and ability to dazzle with tennis effortless. Will Djokovic ever be as beloved as Federer and Nadal? Of course not. But he will have all the numbers on his side to place himself at the top:

• Novak Djokovic is on his way to holding all four grand slams in the same calendar year. Only two men (and three women) have done this before.
• Djokovic is also looking to collect the Golden Slam, possibly adding the Gold Medal this year alongside a potential four slams. Only legend Steffi Graf has done that.
• He is the only man in the Open Era to win every slam twice.
• He currently holds all four slams.
• He beat Federer’s record of most weeks at World No. 1, a record that many thought was unbeatable.
• Nole’s won every Masters 1000 title and has done it twice.
• He’s achieved majors on all surfaces and is considered the most all-around great among the Big Three.

Yet despite these monumental achievements, the debate among fan bases of all three legends will continue to rage on. But at the end of the day, does it really matter? Considering that we have been witness to the highest level of mastery of the sport by three colossus virtuosi. What other sport has that? In fact, what sport has ever had that?

As tennis fans, let’s just take our feet off the pedal of racing to determine which one will be the ultimate winner of records. And let’s just appreciate their collective genius. Tennis really is the sport that is truly gifted with the best there has ever been. And it’s amazing to behold.