"I give it 50 years, no more" - Analyst predicts Rafael Nadal's top-10 record & Novak Djokovic's World No. 1 record will eventually be broken

Tennis analyst and broadcaster Gill Gross has claimed that two of the most astonishing records in men's tennis - belonging to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - would be broken in no more than 50 years.

Djokovic recently started his 378th week as World No. 1, thus breaking Steffi Graf's long-standing record of 377 weeks. Nadal, meanwhile, holds the record for the most weeks in the top 10 of the ATP rankings, at 912 (by March 13).

The Spaniard's stay in the top 10, however, will come to an end following the conclusion of the Indian Wells Masters. He won't be able to defend last season's points as he has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury.

On his podcast titled Monday Match Analysis, tennis broadcaster Gross was asked if Nadal's top 10 record or Novak Djokovic's World No. 1 record was more likely to be broken. In reply, he stated that both records would be broken unless the sport was changed to make them unbreakable.

"Can I say both? Guys? Can I say both? I am totally out on the 'The record is never going to be broken' thing, unless something changes in the game so that these records are more indestructible than they were previously," Gross said.

The broadcaster further claimed that modern-day athletes' careers are longer than before, which has led to records being broken more easily. He cited the examples of LeBron James and Alex Ovechkin becoming the all-time top scorers in the NBA and NHL respectively to back his statement.

"If you want to tell me, 'Oh no one's going to break those records', I will listen to you, alright, but aside from the sport literally changing and making it harder for records to be broken, I got news for you. They're all getting broken, all the records are being broken, the athletes are playing for longer," Gross said.

"It's an absolute game-changer. LeBron James just passed Kareem Abdul Jabbar in points, Alex Ovechkin just passed Wayne Gretzky in (NHL) goals. None of those records were supposed to be broken when Kareem got it, when Wayne "The Great One" got it. None of those records were supposed to be broken, ever. They got broken," he added.

Gross then stated that both Nadal's and Djokovic's records would be broken within 50 years.

"Guys wake up, we gotta wake up here. It's only getting better. It's getting better and better and better and better. Nadal's records are going to be broken and Djokovic's records are going to be broken. There is no doubt about it. It's the way sports is going," he said.

"This is the new way, this is the new age, and it's only going to continue in that direction. So both records will be broken, that is my take. 50 years, I give it 50 years, no more," he added.

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Rafael Nadal claims not leaving Top 10 for so long was a miracle

Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open.

In a recent interview, Rafael Nadal said that staying in the top 10 for 18 years was practically a miracle given all the injuries he suffered.

"With all the injuries I've had over the last 18 years, not having left the top-10 at any occasion is practically a miracle. A time has come when a lot has happened in the last year: a broken rib, two abdominal tears, now the psoas, foot problems. There are many things that, in tennis, with a ranking that lasts a year. You know if you don't play, you're out of the top-10," he said.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently pulled out of the Indian Wells and Miami Masters, and it will be interesting to see when he makes his return to the ATP Tour.