Nadal and Djokovic have plausible claims to be the greatest of the past 50 years but their serene, ruthless rival aces it for me
Few rivalries in sport divide fans with quite the fervour and wilful lack of understanding for an opposing point of view as does that involving Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
When those whose recall reaches back beyond the start of the millennium to weigh up the merits of Pete Sampras and Björn Borg as the other contenders in a magnificent top five, the battalions of young social media hawks smile upon them as quaintly romantic, with their love of wooden rackets, tight shorts and bad mullets. As great as those two players were, with 25 majors between them, they are regarded as intruders on a private argument.
Federer has the ability to give everything and concede nothing, simultaneously beautiful and ruthless
Related: The greatest? Memory can play tricks but it's still Serena Williams for me | Kevin Mitchell
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