"Tough to say Rafael Nadal is the best" - Richard Gasquet gives cautious take on GOAT debate after Spaniard announces retirement from tennis

Richard Gasquet has weighed in on the GOAT debate involving Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, sharing his thoughts on the Spaniard's place in the discussion. The Frenchman’s remarks come in light of Nadal’s retirement announcement, which has reignited conversations around the trio’s legacy in tennis.

For nearly two decades, the GOAT debate between Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer has been a hot topic among fans, experts, and analysts. The Serb now leads the race with 24 Grand Slam titles, making him the most decorated of the trio. The Spaniard has 22 Majors to his name, while the Swiss, who retired in 2022, finished with 20.

Having spent years competing against the Big 3, Gasquet shared his perspective in an exclusive interview with CLAY. He praised Nadal as one of the all-time greats but expressed that he doesn’t quite hold the title of the greatest of all time.

"One of the best. Tough to say he is the best, but he is one of the best," the 38-year-old said.

He added:

"Playing against him was always a big tennis challenge... and mental, physical.. everything. Everything."

Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday, October 10, that he will retire at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, this November, marking the end of his more than two-decade-long career. His last professional appearance took place at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.

---

Rafael Nadal on his retirement: "It's difficult...but everything has a beginning and an end"

Nadal pictured at the 2023 United Cup | Image Source: Getty

Rafael Nadal shared a heartfelt video message on his social media accounts, announcing his decision to retire from tennis at the Davis Cup. He reflected on the challenges of the past two years, expressing that he has struggled to compete without limitations.

"Hello everyone, I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis," he said. "The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations."

The Spaniard admitted that although the decision was not easy, he felt it was time to hang up his racket.

"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make," he said.

"But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end and I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined," he added.