By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 16, 2020
Speaking at this week’s St. Petersburg Open, Stan Wawrinka talked about the lasting legacy of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, and the GOAT debate as well.
The three-time major singles champion says that what Nadal has achieved in Paris is perhaps one of the best achievements in sports – period.
“What he is achieving so far in the French Open is one of the greatest achievements of any sport, probably, winning 13 times the French Open. The way he’s doing it, it’s something amazing,” he said in an interview, according to Canadian tennis journalist Max Gao. “I had the chance to play him there [twice] at the French Open, always got killed, so I know how difficult it is to play him there.
Wawrinka says that people should not worry too much about who is ahead in the GOAT debate, now that Nadal has 20 major titles. It’s more important to enjoy these athletes before they end their careers, he said.
“I think it’s always difficult to compare the big three, especially those amazing athletes, especially that they’re still playing, so we don’t know [who the goat is]. I think we have to wait and see. I think we have to enjoy more that they are still playing, they’re still doing something for our sport in general and that’s something that I like to watch. I like to watch them play and as long as they will play, I will enjoy that.”