Roger Federer has won 16 Grand Slam tennis titles. Novak Djokovic has won only five. But if he could have pulled off the Djokovic Slam, fans could have argued he was the equal of Federer. This is even better; Monday's French Open loss to Rafael Nadal leaves a three-way fight to claim the title of greatest tennis player ever.

Rod Laver held that title for decades. Djokovic could have been the first men's player since Laver 43 years ago to win four consecutive Grand Slams, but lost in four sets to Nadal, who now owns 11 Grand Slam titles.

Since 2005, Federer has won 12 Grand Slam titles to Nadal's 11, a virtual tie. But Federer has won six Wimbledon titles and five U.S. Open crowns to Nadal's two Wimbledon's and one U.S. Open. Advantage Federer. A little too much of Nadal's prestige is tied up in the red clay of Roland Garros, where he has won a record seven French Open titles.

But Nadal is 8-2 head-to-head vs. Federer in Grand Slam tournaments (18-10 overall), including 6-2 in Grand Slam finals. Nadal had to beat Federer en route to his first six titles, five times in the final and once in the semifinals. Even when Federer had the most dominant four-year peak in tennis history, going 315-24 from 2004 until 2007, he had a losing record vs. Nadal. When a guy goes 309-16 against everyone else and 6-8 vs. Nadal, it diminishes the four Grand Slams that Federer won before Nadal came around. Advantage Nadal.

If Nadal hadn't suffered knee injuries in 2009, he might already be clearly considered the greatest ever. He was upset in the French Open that year -- the only time he hasn't won it in the last eight years. That was the year Federer won his only French Open title. And he pulled out of Wimbledon and didn't even play, the only defending champion in decades to not play at Wimbledon. Federer won his last Wimbledon title that year, but Nadal came back to win the next year. It's very reasonable to assume that if Nadal had been healthy, he would have won both of those tournaments, giving him a string of 5 Grand Slam titles in 6 events. He would then have 13 career titles to Federer's 14.

But he doesn't. Federer has 16. Nadal has 11.

But not for long.

Two years ago, it was 16-6.

And even then, some were talking as if Nadal might already be the greatest ever (even though Nadal always demurred). John McEnroe said Nadal might be the best back when his Grand Slam count stood at nine:

"There is definitely an argument for him not only being the best player at the moment, but the greatest of all time. Rafa has won things like the Davis Cup and an Olympic gold medal that Roger Federer hasn't and he is right on his tail in terms of Grand Slam titles, too."

Continued here:
Djokovic loses chance at instant immortality; who is greatest in tennis?