Magnus Carlsen names his tennis GOAT - 'Probably Federer, but I always identified...'

Magnus Carlsen gave a mixed reply when asked to name the tennis GOAT.

Chess icon Magnus Carlsen was asked to name his GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of all sports during an interview with Levy Rozman (YouTube/GothamChess) in 2023. Starting with basketball, Carlsen backed LeBron James, and for football, he picked Lionel Messi despite being a Real Madrid fan.

The chess legend named Barry Bonds as his baseball GOAT and Tom Brady as the greatest American football superstar in history. While asked about his GOAT of tennis, Magnus Carlsen said, “(Novak) Djokovic”. Levy Rozman asked if the greatest tennis player for him was always the Serb. To which the chess superstar said, “No, it was after the (2023) Australian Open thing that he became the greatest for me.”

Rozman also asked if he preferred Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal as the greatest before the 2023 Australian Open. Carlsen backed eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer but stated that he identified more with Rafael Nadal’s playing style. He added, “Probably Federer, but I always identified more with the way Nadal plays.”

The Federer-Nadal rivalry in tennis started in the mid-2000s, while Novak Djokovic joined the two tennis stars to make the ‘Big Three’ after 2010. The Serbian tennis star won his first Grand Slam title in 2008, at the Australian Open.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: Who has won most big titles?

His next title came after almost three years, when he shone again in Melbourne by beating Andy Murray in the 2011 Australian Open. Afterwards, he started winning regular Major titles on the tour. Between 2015 and 2016, Djokovic held all four Grand Slam titles and was on a 30-match unbeaten streak in Major tournaments.

At the 2021 French Open, he equalled Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles. After winning the 2023 Australian Open, he equalled Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam titles. With 24 singles Grand Slam titles, the Serbian tennis star has won the most Major titles in the Open Era.

When asked about the other sports, Carlsen backed Tiger Woods as the gold GOAT and Doyle Brunson for poker. Magnus Carlsen named Garry Kasparov as the greatest chess player.

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