Adriano Panatta said Roger Federer is the GOAT despite Novak Djokovic's 23 Slams

Former Roland Garros (French Open) champion Adriano Panatta believes that despite Novak Djokovic winning a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Roger Federer is still the greatest player of all time.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Panatta, who lifted the Roland Garros title in 1976, revealed his opinion as he discussed various topics in the world of tennis.

"Nothing changes for me: Roger Federer is the greatest," he said. "It's not just a question of aesthetics. Nor of statistics, which are liked a lot but leave the time they find. Let me explain better: Borg in the few years he has played concentrated more Grand Slam victories than Djokovic, Nadal and Federer combined.

"Let's do this: they are all great. There is no greatest. Each one dominates his historical period. The comparisons don't make too much sense, they are just journalistic whims: they change the rackets, the courts, the balls, the way of being on the court and playing tennis, everything changes.

"Djokovic says he's the best? I propose that we deal with it."