In one of the first interviews Roger Federer sat down for post his retirement in September of 2022, he was asked whether Novak Djokovic is now the GOAT. Given the fact that the Serbian won an unprecedented 23rd Grand Slam title just a few days back, this question was always coming. Federer, however, was diplomatic in his response, naming Rafael Nadal in his answer, which was hardly a surprise but also mentioning Boris Becker.
Fans naturally had their own takes on Federer’s answer; some praised the 20-time Grand Slam champion while others believe he is moving the goal posts to avoid giving Nole the title of the greatest ever. Many were also flabbergasted at seeing Boris Becker being brought up.
What fans think of Roger Federer’s answer
For many years, tennis fans expected Roger Federer to accumulate so many Grand Slam titles that nobody would ever challenge him for it. But as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal started climbing up the ladder, the GOAT debate intensified.
Currently, the debate is very much at its peak and it was no surprise that Federer was pushed to give his thoughts on it. In his interview with Tages Anzeiger, he had this to say,
“What’s better? Winning Wimbledon at 17 like [Boris] Becker or Paris at 36 like Novak? I don’t know,” claimed Federer. “What he’s achieved is absolutely gigantic. It could be sufficient. But I think as long as Rafa is still playing, you can’t answer that definitively.”
Federer’s answer divided the tennis community into three broad groups; one that believes he is being unfair by not naming Djokovic as the outright GOAT, one that thinks he is simply supporting his one time rival and friend Nadal’s claim to the throne and lastly a group that is simply scratching its head at seeing Becker’s name.
Many hailed Federer for his measured and diplomatic answer to the question.
And then there were those rubbing their eyes to see if they had read Federer’s answer right.
And one fan here thinks Federer just admitted to not being in contention for the GOAT title himself.
