Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will go down as three of the greatest tennis players to have ever played the sport. And Taylor Fritz has now revealed which of the trio possesses the greatest mental strength.
Federer became the first male tennis player to win 20 Grand Slam trophies when he achieved the feat at the 2018 Australian Open. His record was then beaten by Nadal, who won the last of his 22 Majors at the same location in 2022. But Djokovic leapfrogged both of them at the top of the all-time Grand Slam standings after winning his 24th Major at the 2023 US Open.
Fritz, who is ranked at No. 6 in the world, was asked to build his ultimate tennis player during an interview with TNT Sports.
And when asked whose mental strength he would go for, he chose Nadal as he simply responded: “Rafa.”
The American did back Djokovic when he was choosing the ultimate return and backhand, with Federer’s volleying ability being selected.
Nadal retired from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals last November as he explained: “I’d like to be remembered as a kid that achieved more than I ever dreamed. I have been very lucky in the life I have had the opportunity to live, I have lived unforgettable experiences because of tennis.”
And, at the start of this month, the 39-year-old claimed he would resurrect his on-court rivalry with Federer as he stated at an award ceremony in Madrid: “If Roger and I decide to start an exhibition tour, I will need time to prepare.
“I have been out of the court for a year, and I need some time to prepare. Something will happen in the future, and we have already spoken about it briefly.”
But he has since been forced to undergo surgery on his right hand to relieve pain and restore mobility. And after posting a picture to social media in the aftermath of his procedure, the Spaniard joked: “Looks like I won’t be able to play the @AustralianOpen 2026. I had to undergo hand surgery because of an issue I’d been dealing with for a long time, but I hope to be fine soon!”
Fritz, meanwhile, will be in action at the Australian Open in January after reaching the ATP Finals in Turin last month.
The 28-year-old is yet to win a Grand Slam in his career but did reach the final of the US Open last year, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. He also made it to the semi-finals at Wimbledon earlier this year but was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz.