Andy Murray settles the Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal tennis GOAT debate once and for all

Andy Murray made his view clear on who he felt was the best out of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Murray retired from tennis following the Paris Olympics as he brought down the curtain on his impressive playing career.

Murray won three Grand Slam titles, winning the US Open in 2012 and followed it up with victories at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016.

In other eras, Murray might have had many more Grand Slam titles to his name - but his career coincided with perhaps the greatest players in the history of men's tennis alongside Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Murray is one of the Big Four in tennis as the four players dominated the sport throughout the 2010s.

Murray rivalled the trio on occasions throughout that time and beat Djokovic, Nadal and Federer for titles.

The now retired Federer has 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, including eight Wimbledon crowns.

Nadal recently also retired from tennis and has 22 Grand Slam crowns, with the majority of these - an incredible 14 - coming on clay following French Open wins at Rolland Garros.

Djokovic is the only player out of the quartet to still be competing and he has 24 Grand Slam titles and counting - with the Australian Open being his most successful tournament with 10 victories.

Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. (Image: Getty)

Murray briefly coached his former rival Djokovic for around six months, before the partnership ended in mid-May.

Speaking back in January, Murray felt Djokovic was the greatest tennis player of all time.

And Murray went a step further to claim Djokovic could even be the greatest athlete ever, should he be able to beat the best of the new generation in men's tennis in the form of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner who have risen to the top in recent years.

He said: "Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records that he's achieved.

"These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time.

"But I think if he can go out as a 38, 39 year old and win more Slams, and beat [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner in big matches, he's got a claim to be the best athlete of all time and I think that's exciting for me and his team to be part of that."