Rafa? Serena? Roger? Tennis’s Goat debate is an affront to history

As Rafael Nadal aims for his 23rd major and Serena Williams prepares to bid farewell, comparing players across generations is a futile activity

GOAT: Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain at Wimbledon in 2019. Pic: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

This September marks the 20th anniversary of Pete Sampras’s 14th and final grand slam victory, when he beat his longtime foe Andre Agassi to claim his fifth US Open title. It was also the last match Sampras ever played on tour, making his victory in New York a glorious capstone to a magnificent career. At the time, it appeared as if Sampras’s extraordinary career stats – namely his then-record slam count for men – would be the benchmark for future generations.

Yet as the tennis world makes its annual descent into Gotham, it’s remarkable that not only has Sampras’ grand slam record been eclipsed, it’s been smashed to pieces by a trio of players, the so-called Big Three of Rafael Nadal (22 major titles), Novak Djokovic (21) and Roger Federer (20). For three players to have done this, all in the same era, is almost beyond comprehension.