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Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer GOAT verdict given as fans told to ‘open their eyes’
Aljaz Bedene had his say on the legacy Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic would leave behind.

Aljaz Bedene has had his say on the GOAT battle between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer after hanging up his racket. The former world No 43 faced all the members of the Big Three during his career and told fans that they needed to “open their eyes” when considering who would retire with all the records.

Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have been at the centre of the GOAT debate in men’s tennis for more than a decade, with different arguments used to back each player as the undisputed greatest. But one pro who faced all three has now had his say, and claimed that the Serb would be the one to hold all the records though Federer’s influence would remain greater.

Bedene recently ended his career during the Davis Cup, joining Federer in retirement after the 41-year-old had one last dance during the Laver Cup with his biggest rivals by his side. As he looked back on his career, the Slovenian also reflected on the GOAT debate and claimed that it was Djokovic who had been the most difficult opponent.

“You have to open your eyes,” he told SportKlub, discussing the GOAT debate. “Roger Federer had the greatest influence that is remembered in the world of tennis. If we talk about the best in terms of results, it will definitely be Novak Djokovic.”

While Bedene thought Federer had a bigger impact on the sport, he was firmly backing the world No 7 to go on to break all the records with Djokovic already holding the most weeks at No 1 and the most Masters titles in ATP history. He continued: “I am of the opinion that the Serbian will be the player with the most Grand Slam titles once all three have retired, also from Masters 1000, even in number of tournaments.

“I have played against all three many times and Novak has the most difficult ball to tackle, he is perfect.” Bedene has a 4-0 losing record against the 21-time Grand Slam champion, with their most recent clash coming at the French Open this year.

He played Federer twice in 2018 and lost both matches, and also has a 2-0 losing record against Nadal. The 33-year-old did confess that he started to believe he could beat the likes of the Big Three and Andy Murray after a successful training block before the pandemic before tennis stopped for several months, leaving Bedene doubting whether he could reach the heights of the top 20 and 30.

“In the second half of the 2019 season, I won Portoroz, played the third round of Flushing with Zverev and lost in four sets, two of which were tiebreaks,” he said. “I was in the quarter-finals in Vienna, player Tsonga for the title in Metz, then the following year in February I beat Tsitsipas and lost to Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals. If I played a good spring, I could have been close to the top 20, but then we found out at Indian Wells that the tournaments were cancelled.”

Will Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek rule on grass? Will Coco Gauff and Nick Kyrgios task for titles? We’ve ranked the main contenders beforehand of Wimbledon, which starts on June 27. Swiatek might be aiming for a report thirty sixth victory in a row when she returns to motion while Djokovic can be bidding for a twenty first Grand Slam identify at SW19.

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek ruled in Paris, but who will conquer the grass?
The grass season gets under way this week with events in Stuttgart, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Nottingham, with Queen’s, Halle and Eastbourne to follow. The tournaments all lead up to Wimbledon, which starts on June 27.
But are Nadal and Swiatek still the favourites on grass? Or will the change of surface see a switch at the top?

MEN’S GRASS POWER RANKINGS*
1. NOVAK DJOKOVIC
A somewhat tentative selection given his up-and-down performance in the French Open quarter-final defeat to Nadal, but Djokovic should still be the player to beat by the time Wimbledon comes round.
The world No. 1 does not seem likely to play any warm-up events before his bid for a fourth Wimbledon title in a row, but that will be nothing new.
Djokovic has an 85 per cent win record on grass and cantered to the title last year at SW19 for the loss of just two sets. If he returns to the same form he showed before his defeat to Nadal, when he won nine consecutive matches in straight sets, and serves and returns to his usual high standard, then it’s difficult to see who is going to stop him winning a 21st Grand Slam title.

2. MATTEO BERRETTINI
Berrettini comes with a big asterisk as he hasn’t played since March, but he also comes with a big game, and his form on grass last season sticks in the memory.
He was dominant at Queen’s, only dropping one set on his way to lifting the title, and impressive at Wimbledon as his powerful serve and rifling forehand powered him to the final. He also made the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year and should be one to watch if he’s fit.
Rafael Nadal could have slotted in here too, but misses out as his participation in the grass season seems very much up in the air following the French Open. He has said he hopes to play Wimbledon, where he has made the semi-finals the last two times he has played, but everything seems to depend on his upcoming radiofrequency treatment on his chronic foot issue. If he does play Wimbledon then the last six months alone are evidence enough that it would impossible to write him off.

3. FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME
It feels like Auger-Aliassime is close to a breakthrough.
At the Australian Open he pushed Daniil Medvedev to five sets in the quarter-finals and at the French Open he took Nadal the distance in the last 16. He also made the quarters at Wimbledon a year ago, losing to runner-up Berrettini in four sets, along with the Stuttgart final and Halle semis.

Auger-Aliassime looks to have improved with the addition of Toni Nadal to the coaching team and there is no doubt he has the power in his serve and quality in his all-round game to win on grass.
With Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev all set to miss Wimbledon, Auger-Aliassime could be seeded sixth. He should be set for a deep run.
4. MARIN CILIC
Maybe not a name that would have featured in the Wimbledon conversation a few months ago, but Cilic looks to be back in form ahead of the grass season.
At the French Open he blazed through the opening three rounds before producing one of his career-best displays in thrashing Medvedev in straight sets. If Cilic serves and hits his forehand as well as he did against Medvedev then he will be a very tough out for anyone on grass.
Cilic has made the Wimbledon quarter-finals on four occasions, including making the final in 2017, and also won on grass in Stuttgart last year. Definitely one to watch.

5. NICK KYRGIOS
‘Erm, what?’ I hear you cry.
How about Denis Shapovalov? Or Hubert Hurkacz? Yes they should both contend after making the Wimbledon semis a year ago, but Kyrgios gets the nod as a wild-card entry.
The Australian hasn’t been seen on tour for several months as he skipped most of the clay season, but let’s not forget he was looking pretty darn good at the start of the year, hitting the ball fiercely and serving very nicely as he made the quarter-finals in Miami, last 16 of Indian Wells, and semi-finals in Houston.

A year ago he made the third round of Wimbledon without having played competitively for four months, and this time around he is doing some prep, starting in Stuttgart this week.
Is his temperament still a factor that could count against him? Yes, as he showed in defeat to Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells. But if he gets on a roll again he will have plenty of crowd support and he has the game to be great on grass.
*Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are not included as they are not able to play Wimbledon due to the ban of Russian and Belarusian players. Alexander Zverev looks as though he will miss Wimbledon due to the injury suffered against Nadal at the French Open.

WOMEN’S GRASS POWER RANKINGS*
1. IGA SWIATEK
Swiatek is French Open champion, unbeaten since February, on a six-tournament winning streak, and one win away from the longest women’s winning streak this century.
But the switch to grass brings a glimmer of hope to her rivals.
So far grass has been Swiatek’s weakest surface, with no finals on it and a fourth-round defeat in her last appearance at Wimbledon. Even she seems slightly doubtful that she can continue her domination of the tour over the next six weeks.
“My coach believes I can win more matches on grass – I don’t know about that yet. Honestly, grass is always tricky. I actually like the part that I have no expectations there. It’s something kind of refreshing.”
Swiatek enters the grass season riding a 35-match winning streak, needing one more victory to pass Venus Williams’ mark for the best winning run this century. She says a “chapter is closed” after her French Open win, and is now planning on some much-earned rest, but even if Swiatek’s level drops a few notches she could still be a very tough proposition on grass.

2. ONS JABEUR
Jabeur is perhaps flying under the radar heading into the grass season after her shock first-round French Open exit. The new world No. 4 was one of the favourites at Roland-Garros after a strong clay swing but was one of several seeds to tumble out early.
However, she could quickly return to form on grass, which she has previously suggested is her favourite surface.
Jabeur won her first grass title in Birmingham last year and also beat Swiatek on her way to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Swiatek was full of praise for her opponent after losing 5-7 6-1 6-1.
“I think she just has a flow,” said Swiatek. “She’s using all the skills that she has. It’s working out well for her. I mean, she just has all the skills to play on grass, and that’s great.”
Swiatek also highlighted Jabeur’s “great returns” after she broke her serve seven times.
If she can put her French Open disappointment behind her then Jabeur will be one to watch at Wimbledon.

3. COCO GAUFF
It was at Wimbledon three years ago that Gauff made her big breakthrough as a 15-year-old, coming through qualifying and beating Venus Williams on her way to the last 16.
She has taken steady steps forward since and her run to the French Open final signals that she is ready to contend with the best.
Gauff has improved her serve and her movement over the last few years and she has a good all-round game, although her forehand is still an area that could get even better. Last time out at Wimbledon she made the last 16 again and look for her to make some waves on grass this summer.

4. KAROLINA PLISKOVA
Pliskova has not had a great season so far with a 6-8 win-loss record.
But the former world No. 1 has been working her way back from an arm injury that saw her miss the first few months of the year and on grass she has the weapons to trouble most players.
At Wimbledon last summer she rattled through the draw without dropping a set until the semi-finals. She then pushed Ashleigh Barty to three sets in a nervy final when her game-changing first serve largely deserted her.
If Pliskova is fully healthy and serving well she should be a factor again at SW19.
5. BELINDA BENCIC
You could make a case for new American No. 1 Jessica Pegula or American No. 2 Danielle Collins, but Bencic has the grass experience that could see her impress over the next month.
The Olympic champion has a decent career record on the surface, making four finals, and her game looked in good shape on clay. Even in defeat to Leylah Fernandez in the third round of the French Open she played well enough to win.
She’s yet to make a strong run at Wimbledon and suffered a shock first-round exit as the ninth seed last year. However, with the field looking open she could come to the fore.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book a heavyweight French Open quarter-final clash Sunday

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will appearance to e book a heavyweight French Open sector-very last clash Sunday, whilst Carlos Alcaraz hopes to extend his run after turning into the youngest guy to make the last sixteen seeing that 2006. Record 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian 9th seed trained by using Toni Nadal, the Spanish celebrity’s uncle and instruct for the quality part of 3 many years.

“For me, it’s very simple,” stated Nadal.

“he is my uncle. He will not want me to lose. He wants the excellent for me and that i want the exceptional for him. But he’s a expert and with every other participant now. It is 0 hassle.”

Auger-Aliassime started out operating with Toni Nadal in April 2021, 4 years after Nadal and his uncle referred to as time on their 27-yr, trophy-laden association.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Set Sights On French Open ShowdownRafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book a heavyweight French Open quarter-final clash SundayAgence France-PresseUpdated: May 29, 2022 08:47 AM ISTRead Time:3 min

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Set Sights On French Open Showdown
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book French Open showdown on Sunday© AFP
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book a heavyweight French Open quarter-final clash Sunday, while Carlos Alcaraz hopes to extend his run after becoming the youngest man to make the last 16 since 2006. Record 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian ninth seed trained by Toni Nadal, the Spanish star’s uncle and coach for the best part of three decades.

“For me, it’s very simple,” said Nadal.

“He is my uncle. He will not want me to lose. He wants the best for me and I want the best for him. But he’s a professional and with another player now. It’s zero problem.”

Auger-Aliassime started working with Toni Nadal in April 2021, four years after Nadal and his uncle called time on their 27-year, trophy-laden association.

“We knew it was a possibility that eventually I would play Rafa when I’m working with Toni,” said Auger-Aliassime, who made his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open in September.

“I think Toni will watch from a neutral place and enjoy the match. From my part it’s another match.

“Rafa’s career and what he did with Toni is much bigger than the match on Sunday.”

Nadal’s record at the French Open reads 108 wins against just three defeats.

He has reached at least the last eight in 15 of 17 visits to Paris. Nadal lost to Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009 and withdrew before the third round in 2016 with a wrist injury.

Another victory for Nadal would send him through to a quarter-final with Djokovic should the world number one and defending champion defeat Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in his last-16 clash.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Set Sights On French Open ShowdownRafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book a heavyweight French Open quarter-final clash SundayAgence France-PresseUpdated: May 29, 2022 08:47 AM ISTRead Time:3 min

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Set Sights On French Open Showdown
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book French Open showdown on Sunday© AFP
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book a heavyweight French Open quarter-final clash Sunday, while Carlos Alcaraz hopes to extend his run after becoming the youngest man to make the last 16 since 2006. Record 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian ninth seed trained by Toni Nadal, the Spanish star’s uncle and coach for the best part of three decades.

“For me, it’s very simple,” said Nadal.

“He is my uncle. He will not want me to lose. He wants the best for me and I want the best for him. But he’s a professional and with another player now. It’s zero problem.”

Auger-Aliassime started working with Toni Nadal in April 2021, four years after Nadal and his uncle called time on their 27-year, trophy-laden association.

“We knew it was a possibility that eventually I would play Rafa when I’m working with Toni,” said Auger-Aliassime, who made his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open in September.

“I think Toni will watch from a neutral place and enjoy the match. From my part it’s another match.

“Rafa’s career and what he did with Toni is much bigger than the match on Sunday.”

Nadal’s record at the French Open reads 108 wins against just three defeats.

He has reached at least the last eight in 15 of 17 visits to Paris. Nadal lost to Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009 and withdrew before the third round in 2016 with a wrist injury.

Another victory for Nadal would send him through to a quarter-final with Djokovic should the world number one and defending champion defeat Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in his last-16 clash.

Alcaraz follows in Djokovic footsteps

Djokovic has won all six previous meetings with Schwartzman, the 15th seed from Argentina, including a five-set victory in the third round at Roland Garros in 2017.

Alcaraz, 19, is the youngest man through to the second week of the French Open since Djokovic 16 years ago.

After saving a match point in the second round, the sixth seed gained revenge against the only man to beat him on clay this year, defeating American Sebastian Korda in straight sets.

“I think I am ready,” said Alcaraz. “If I win this tournament I would say it’s my golden ticket.”

He has won 20 of 21 matches on clay this season and next faces 21st seed Karen Khachanov.

Third seed and 2021 semi-finalist Alexander Zverev plays qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles, the 134th-ranked Spaniard who is enjoying his best run at a major and took down John Isner in the last 32.

Last year’s US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez tackles American 27th seed Amanda Anisimova, who made the last four in Paris three years ago and knocked out Naomi Osaka in the first round.

Coco Gauff, 18, seeks a repeat of her quarter-final appearance from a year ago when she meets Belgium’s Elise Mertens, while Swiss 23rd seed Jil Teichmann plays former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who lost the 2018 Roland Garros final.

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Aliaksandra Sasnovich will try to reach the last eight of a major for the first time against Italy’s Martina Trevisan, a surprise quarter-finalist in 2020.