Emma Raducanu may not be one of tennis’ best players, but she is certainly one of the sport’s most famous.
After all, following on from that incredible US Open title in 2021, the Brit has capitalised on her newfound notoriety, partnering with some of the world’s leading brands, from fashion to jewellery and sporting goods too.
Frustratingly, with this fame comes criticism, and for the 22-year-old, arguably, few have ever had it worse.
With the press always looking for an opportunity to tear her down, her every word is scrutinised, leading to her becoming less and less vocal on certain issues.
However, in 2024, she weighed in on arguably the biggest debate the sport has: who is the greatest tennis player of all time?
Emma Raducanu picks her tennis GOAT
Emma Raducanu was torn when deciding, as many often are.
After all, there are a handful of clear options, with Serena Williams and the Big Three the most obvious contemporary candidates.
Who do you think is the greatest tennis player of all time – Novak Djokovic or Serena Williams?
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In the end, Raducanu whittled it down to Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, before making a clear distinction between the two.
She admitted: “In my opinion, the tennis GOAT is Novak Djokovic for his consistent and top-level performance.
“I think my favourite to watch is Roger Federer. He plays with grace, elegance, and class. He’s timeless.”
Martina Navratilova has also named her male tennis GOAT, but shockingly opted for someone other than Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic’s title statistics compared to Roger Federer’s
When comparing Raducanu’s two favourites in terms of titles, there is simply little comparison. The Serbian blows the now-retired superstar out of the water in almost every metric.
Djokovic won more Grand Slam titles (24 vs 20) and more finals (38 vs 31) than Federer, and delving deeper into events like the Olympics and Masters 1000, it widens the gulf even more.
Are you more or less confident that Novak Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam now?
The 38-year-old claimed Olympic gold in 2024, collecting an accolade that Federer did not manage, and whilst he is not competing in them nearly as often as he used to, Djokovic’s 40 Masters 1000 titles are far more than the 22 his great rival managed.
That’s without mentioning the fact that this year’s Australian Open finalist has actually won every event at this level too, with Federer missing out on triumphs in Monte Carlo and Rome during his career.
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