Rafael Nadal has already made a strong case as Greatest of All Time—even if he doesn't break Roger Federer's major mark says Feliciano Lopez.
The left-handed Lopez, who wed model Sandra Gagno on his 38th birthday last week, told Spanish publication Marca that Nadal doesn't need to break Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam titles to be the best.
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Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final earlier this month to capture his 19th career major championship.
"Rafa doesn't need to be the player with the most Grand Slam to go down in history as one of the best," Lopez told Marca. "I hope he wins many more. He has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate that it is a phenomenon. Until he retires, Djokovic and Roger are not worthy cabal. It will depend a lot on the physical conditions of each one."
Lopez, who fell to Medvedev in a fierce US Open third-round clash, said the Russian apologized to him afterward for his behavior on court.
"It was a game that, despite the defeat, I enjoyed the great level of play," Lopez said. "I competed with one of the fittest players. It is these types of games that one wishes to play and for which I continue to sacrifice myself in day-to-day training.
"What happened on the [court] was seen by everyone and I think he apologized. First he did it with me in the locker room and then to the public. So there isn't much else to add."
Photo credit: @TheQueensClub