Gael Monfils says there is no comparison with absolute legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Monfils, 36, is from the same generation as Nadal and Djokovic, while Federer was already winning big titles when the Frenchman first appeared on the Tour.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have each won at least 20 Grand Slam titles. Monfils, who for many years was a top-10 player and regarded as one of the best players in the game, has never won a Grand Slam. Also, Monfils acknowledged Nadal’s astonishing record of 14 French Open titles.
Monfils calls Federer, Nadal and Djokovic ‘legends’
“We always want to compare the incomparable. Nadal, Djokovic and Federer are not champions. These guys are legends. People forget it. If we could achieve the same things as them, we would be legends too.
I always take the example of RolandâGarros. Who has won it 14 times? Has this ever existed? Two other legends have only won it three times, once Roger and twice Novak,” Monfils said, per We Love Tennis France.
This year, we could see only one Big Three at the French Open. Federer is retired, while Nadal hasn’t played since the Australian Open due to an injury suffered to his psoas muscle. Last weekend, Federer was a guest at the Miami Grand Prix and he was asked about the possibility of not seeing Nadal at Roland Garros this year.
“It would be brutal. That would be tough for tennis if Rafa wasn’t gonna be there. I still hope so. I saw he pulled out of Rome so I wish him the best and then obviously Novak also hasn’t played that much so I hope he is going to be strong as well.
And then obviously all the young guys coming through as well. I’ll be watching, that’s for sure,” Federer told Sky Sports over the weekend.
