June 11, 2017 : Rafa Nadal completes LA DECIMA at Roland-Garros
"His 14 titles at Roland Garros weigh more than Djokovic's 23 Grand Slams": Ilie Nastase believes Nadal's Roland Garros wins outweighs Djokovic breaking record
ATPSaturday, 17 June 2023 at 07:35
Ilie
Nastase expressed his opinion that Rafael Nadal's 14 French Open titles are
more important than Novak Djokovic's 23 Grand Slam titles.
Former tennis
player Ilie Nastase does not believe that Djokovic's 23 Grand Slam titles
necessarily make him the "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time). The Romanian,
who won Roland Garros in 1973, said that the difference between Djokovic and
Nadal with 22 titles is almost imperceptible
"I
don't think it's a fight, I don't think it's a personal fight between him and
Nadal. I don't see this thing. That's what happened, right? It could have been
the other way around, it could have been Nadal with 23. They're both there,
close to each other. Does it matter now that he took an extra one?
“It matters
to Djokovic, but I don't think Nadal is jealous of that. Someone else should be
jealous of him, that he won Roland Garros 14 times. Those 14 are harder than
Djokovic's 23.
Just so you
know, to win on clay 14 times at Roland Garros?! I don't think another player
is born who can do this job," said Nastase.
The
Romanian reflected on other great champions who are less talked about today and
how, over time, they are gradually forgotten:
“They're
all there, Federer is too. Let's not forget those before, Borg, Rod Laver, who
did the calendar Slam twice, Sampras. Or others, which we have forgotten.
Agassi, for example. And others,” he added.
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“They look
at these things, but children and even older ones only look at who is the
current champion. I guess it's the same in football. Pele was appreciated in
his time, Cruyff was appreciated in his time, so was Maradona, now it's Messi,
right?
“I can compare,
because I've seen them all and played with many of them, but I don't think they
do this thing, I think it's more the media and the sponsors who maintain this
thing with the Grand Slams. And so? Djokovic will be forgotten with these 23 as
the others were forgotten! And he will be forgotten!
“We can
only sit and look at records when we open the newspaper or sports magazine, but
we can't forget Nadal, we can't! Or Federer, even if they retire. It will be
Djokovic's turn too, right?",
Ilie Nastase: “They’re both there, close to each other. Does it matter that he has 1 more? For Novak it's important, but I don't think Rafa Nadal is jealous. Someone should be jealous of him for winning Roland Garros 14 times. His 14 titles at RG weigh more than Djokovic's 23 GS”
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