In an interview with sports journalist Craig Gabriel, Lendl spoke extensively about the GOAT race - a topic that seems to split tennis fans like nothing else. In the eyes of the Czech-American, Roger Federer is currently ahead of his competitors courtesy his tally of 20 Grand Slam titles, an all-time record. However, Lendl also believes the race is not over yet.
During the interview, Lendl was also asked about two other players - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - who have staked strong claims to be called the GOAT. The former coach of Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev replied:
Roger Federer has held the Slam record since Wimbledon 2009
A five-set win over American Andy Roddick at 2009 Wimbledon took Roger Federer past Pete Sampras (14) for most Grand Slam titles, and the Swiss has held the record ever since.
In recent times Rafael Nadal (19) and Novak Djokovic (17) have closed the gap in the all-time Grand Slam title leaderboard, but Federer is still at the top of the pile with 20.
Lendl touched on that too, but reinforced how unpredictable such records can be. He talked about how Pete Sampras’ tally of 14 Grand Slam titles looked ‘untouchable’ for a while - before not one, but three guys surpassed the American’s tally.
Interestingly, in an earlier interview with Gabriel, Lendl had expressed reservations over whether there could ever be a single ‘greatest of all time’. The 11-time Grand Slam finalist had said the following in this regard:
Is Roger Federer the GOAT of the Open Era?
As Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are still active in the sport, Lendl believes the ‘book is not closed’ on the GOAT issue. But the 60-year-old had no qualms in admitting that there was no greater player than Laver when tennis had yet to open its doors to professionals.
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