Rafael Nadal won 22 Grand Slam titles and held the number-one ranking for 209 weeks.
But few consider him the greatest tennis player of all time. For many, Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at number one than anyone (428), holds that distinction.
Nadal’s countryman, Carlos Alcaraz, already a seven-time Grand Slam champion in his own right, has now discussed whether the ‘King of Clay’ is the G.O.A.T.
Carlos Alcaraz admits Novak Djokovic is the greatest player of all time
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone ahead of the 2026 Laver Cup, Alcaraz was asked whether he considered Nadal the greatest tennis player of all time.
“For me, Rafa Nadal is someone I looked up to as a little kid growing up. But the court, in terms of numbers, and everything he has done in tennis. He has won everything not only once but twice; it’s [Novak] Djokovic,” he said.
Djokovic won the four Grand Slam titles, nine Masters Series titles, and the ATP Finals multiple times, something Nadal never did. The Spaniard didn’t win the Miami Open, Paris Masters, or the ATP Finals.
Comparing Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at ‘big’ tournaments
| Tournament | Novak Djokovic’s titles | Rafael Nadal’s titles |
| Australian Open | 10 | 2 |
| French Open | 3 | 14 |
| Wimbledon | 7 | 2 |
| US Open | 4 | 4 |
| ATP Finals | 7 | 0 |
| Indian Wells | 5 | 3 |
| Miami Open | 6 | 0 |
| Monte Carlo Masters | 2 | 11 |
| Madrid Open | 3 | 5 (As Hamburg Open – 2008) |
| Italian Open | 6 | 10 |
| Canadian Open | 4 | 5 |
| Cincinnati Open | 3 | 1 |
| Shanghai Masters | 4 | 1 (As Madrid Open – 2005) |
| Paris Masters | 7 | 0 |
Alcaraz concedes Djokovic is the G.O.A.T. over his countryman, but who would he rather play with at the Laver Cup? Alcaraz was asked which member of the ‘Big Three’ (Djokovic, Nadal, and Roger Federer) he would most like to play with at the team event.
“I would say, Rafa Nadal. As a Spanish player, for me, Rafa Nadal is everything, so I would love to have him on the team. I could never share the locker, court, or something with Roger Federer before, so it would be between those two.”
Alcaraz has played the Laver Cup twice, debuting in 2024, two years after Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic last appeared at the event. The Spaniard is 6-2 at the Laver Cup and has the highest win % (75% – tied with Ben Shelton) among players with at least six matches played.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Laver Cup record (6-2)
- 2024 Laver Cup (Doubles w/Alexander Zverev) [LOSS] vs Taylor Fritz/Ben Shelton, 6-7, 4-6
- 2024 Laver Cup (Singles) [WIN] vs Ben Shelton, 6-4, 6-4
- 2024 Laver Cup (Doubles w/Casper Ruud) [WIN] vs Ben Shelton/Frances Tiafoe, 6-2, 7-6
- 2024 Laver Cup (Singles) [WIN] vs Taylor Fritz, 6-2, 7-5
- 2025 Laver Cup (Doubles w/Jakub Mensik) [WIN] vs Taylor Fritz/Alex Michelsen, 7-6, 6-4
- 2025 Laver Cup (Singles) [LOSS] vs Taylor Fritz, 3-6, 2-6
- 2025 Laver Cup (Doubles w/Casper Ruud) [WIN] vs Alex Michelsen/Reilly Opelka, 7-6, 6-1
- 2025 Laver Cup (Singles) [WIN] vs Francisco Cerundolo, 6-2, 6-1
Who will Carlos Alcaraz play with at the 2026 Laver Cup?
Alcaraz will return for his third consecutive Laver Cup in 2026, but who will he be playing alongside? Team captain Yannick Noah and vice-captain Tim Henman have selected Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Rafael Jodar, Casper Ruud, and Jakub Mensik, with Arthur Fery appearing as an alternate.
Which player do you think will perform the best at the Laver Cup this year?
And who do you think will win – Team Europe or Team World?
They’ll face Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter’s Team World side, which consists of Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alexander Bublik, Francisco Cerundolo, and Ignacio Buse as the alternate.
Team World are defending champions, but the Europeans lead the overall head-to-head, 5-3. Only time will tell if Alcaraz and his teammates can extend Team Europe’s winning record this year. The 2026 Laver Cup will take place in London from Friday, September 25, to Sunday, September 27.
Add to Preferred Sources 