WATCH: “My heart and head says…,” Jack Draper picks his GOAT between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal retired after winning 22 Grand Slam titles, while Novak Djokovic will be chasing his 25th major in 2025.
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Rafael Nadal, Jack Draper, Novak Djokovic (Images via X)
Jack Draper was confused when he was asked to pick the player who is the GOAT (greatest of all time). For the Brit, Novak Djokovic is the GOAT but his heart said it’s Rafael Nadal.
Nadal retired at the 2024 Davis Cup with 22 Grand Slam singles titles, becoming the second member of the Big 3 after Federer to call time out an incredible career. Injuries forced the King of Clay to close the most remarkable chapter of his life.
Djokovic, 37, is tied with Margaret Court with 24 majors and another title would mean he will have 25 of them, the most in the history of tennis. Draper knows it, which is why even if he wanted to pick Nadal, he called Djokovic the GOAT.
And then out of these three [Big 3]…No, because when I was growing up, every kit, every new look was him. He was just so iconic. Obviously, being a left-hander like myself. I know my head says Novak but heart is Rafa. But for me the GOAT is obviously, Novak Djokovic.
Jack Draper told Sky Sports
Watch the video here:
"My head says Novak but my heart says Rafa" 😯
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) December 23, 2024
Jack Draper on who the GOAT of tennis is 🤔 pic.twitter.com/QktmPYRwTV
Jack Draper understands why Andy Murray decided to coach Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic in November announced that he will be coached by Andy Murray for at least the start of the 2025 season. No one probably had guessed that they would be seeing a Murray-Djokovic partnership.
Jack Draper, who himself was shocked, said he understands now why the Scot chose to be back to tennis three months after retirement. The 23-year-old, who is struggling with hip injury, thinks tennis ‘wires’ players in such a way that they struggle to leave the sport.
I’ve started to understand now why Andy [Murray] struggled to leave the sport. [As tennis players] we’re chasing something the whole time, we’re busy with that dopamine hit of winning and playing and traveling. It’s not real life. So when you go back to not having a lot of stuff on, it’s kind of like, ‘I’ve got another six hours till the end of the day. What am I going to do? Watch some TV?’
Jack Draper told the Telegraph
Murray retired at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while his last tour-level match was at Wimbledon where he played doubles. His last singles match on the tour was against Alexei Popyrin in the Round of 32 of the Queen’s Club Championships.
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Gouri Das
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