Unprecedented Reign: Why Novak Djokovic Ranks Above All as Tennis' Greatest

Rafael Nadal acknowledges that Novak Djokovic, his longstanding opponent, is the undisputed greatest tennis player of all time. According to Nadal, the debate about the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the sport is pointless. Djokovic recently secured his 24th grand slam singles title at the US Open, surpassing Nadal's tally by two.

Djokovic boasts an impressive 39 Masters 1000 titles, which is three more than Nadal. Additionally, he holds the record for the most weeks spent at world No. 1, with 392 weeks, surpassing Roger Federer by 82 weeks in second place.

"I acknowledge that Djokovic's numbers and statistics surpass mine, and there is no denying it," Nadal told Diario AS. "I am not too proud to admit this reality. It is the truth."

The remaining aspects encompass flavors, imagination, and feelings that can be conveyed by either player, which may attract your preference towards one or the other. In terms of accolades, I firmly believe that Djokovic stands as the greatest player in history, leaving no room for debate on that matter."

Nadal conceded that certain individuals may argue that he has encountered "misfortune" in terms of injuries, while Djokovic has been more fortunate. However, he philosophically acknowledged that this too is a part of the sport.

Novak Djokovic won his 24th grand slam at the US Open.

Manu Fernandez/AP

"I applaud his achievements without feeling any frustration," stated Nadal. "Whether I was leading in the number of slams or in a tie, I have always expressed my admiration. And now, with me being behind, my sentiment remains the same."

"I will not attempt to become someone I am not through a personal battle. I accept what is and what is not. I say this with contentment for all my accomplishments."

The 37-year-old Nadal, who hasn't played professional tennis since injuring his hip during a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open in January, announced in May that next season will be his final one on the tour after withdrawing from the French Open.

Nadal expresses his belief that he will most likely retire after the upcoming year, although he acknowledges that he cannot state this with absolute certainty. He explains that if circumstances align favorably, such as feeling physically fit and mentally sharp, and if he continues to find joy in competing, he questions the need to impose limitations on himself.

Nadal says he is currently either training or undergoing rehab twice a day to prepare for next season but is still playing very little tennis.

Nadal hasn't played on the tour since suffering an injury at the Australian Open in January.

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The King of Clay stressed his desire for his final year in tennis to be more than just a farewell tour. He aims to maintain a competitive edge on the court, although he acknowledges that this may not be realistic. He emphasized that his focus at present is solely on training and regaining his competitive form, with the ultimate goal of being able to play at a high level. This stands as his primary objective.

Afterwards, it's uncertain. If I'm only capable of being moderately competitive on the court and not a complete disaster, then I won't participate in many matches. I'll only play a select few tournaments to bid farewell.

Nadal has also contemplated the worst-case scenario, acknowledging the possibility of not recovering and never returning to play.

"I hope that is not the case, but one has to be realistic, know the difficulty in which one finds oneself today and live it naturally."