Ivan Ljubicic backed Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s broader “impact” over Novak Djokovic’s trophy haul, renewing the GOAT debate in men’s tennis. The discussion around nadal resurfaced Sunday at 2: 34 p. m. ET as the former Federer coach outlined why “impact” can outweigh results in judging all-time greatness.
Ivan Ljubicic elevates Roger Federer and Nadal on tennis ‘impact’
Ljubicic, a 10-time ATP Tour titlist and former coach to Roger Federer, said on the Off Court with Greg Rusedski podcast that Federer and Rafael Nadal shaped the sport in ways he views as “maybe bigger than Novak. ” Now a high-performance director at the French Tennis Federation, he framed the question around influence as much as accolades.
“Obviously Novak won the most, it’s clear, ” Ljubicic said, before drawing a distinction. “But for me, the impact that Roger had on the game, and Rafa, in different moments — it’s huge. Maybe bigger than Novak. ” He emphasized that defining the GOAT depends on which metric — impact or results — one prioritizes.
The Croatian also reflected on how each of the Big Three challenged him. He described Federer as “complicated” to face, recalling they met four times in three months in early 2005 and that each match felt different. That unpredictability, he suggested, kept opponents off balance from point to point.
Turning to Nadal, Ljubicic said the Spaniard’s deeper return position gave rivals “time, ” especially on service games, though breakthrough wins were rare. He noted he beat Nadal twice, adding that rallies against him were relentless because Nadal “doesn’t serve big, ” which meant chances existed but converting them was “really difficult. ”
Novak Djokovic’s record acknowledged, influence debate persists
Despite backing Federer and Nadal on “impact, ” Ljubicic credited Djokovic’s peak level as the toughest ask for his own game. With a serve designed to earn free points, he said that approach “was just not possible” when Djokovic was fully dialed in, underscoring the Serb’s return and baseline pressure.
Across two decades, Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal amassed a combined 66 major titles — 18 Australian Opens, 18 French Opens, 17 Wimbledon crowns, and 13 US Open trophies — numbers that anchor Djokovic’s case if the GOAT question is decided strictly by results. Ljubicic acknowledged as much, saying that by results alone “Novak is the one who won the most. ”
The competitive picture remains live. Djokovic, 38, reached the 2026 Australian Open final, defeating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals before falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the title match. That recent run supports the notion, raised alongside Ljubicic’s comments, that Djokovic is still adding chapters to his résumé even as the influence debate continues.
Ljubicic ultimately left the definition open. “They are different, ” he said of the trio. If impact is the lens, Federer and Nadal lead in his view; if counting silverware, Djokovic stands on top. The debate, by his telling, turns on which ledger fans and analysts value most.
What Ljubicic’s comments mean for Nadal and the GOAT discourse
By centering influence, Ljubicic brings Nadal’s cultural and stylistic footprint to the fore without dismissing results. His framing keeps nadal and Federer central to the conversation, even as Djokovic’s statistical case remains formidable and current. Each standard — impact or totals — points to a different answer.
- Toughest to face: Djokovic, when “on, ” blunted Ljubicic’s serve-driven game.
- Most impact: Federer and Nadal, in different moments, shaped the sport’s direction.
- Results leader: Djokovic, with the most major hardware among the Big Three.
The GOAT question now rides into the tour’s next marquee stretch, where performances and narratives can shift again. The Indian Wells Open is running until March 15, offering another backdrop for the debate as players return to the hard courts and storylines evolve.
