Wimbledon champion gives fascinating answer to settle Federer vs Djokovic GOAT debate

A former Wimbledon champion has settled the tennis GOAT debate between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic with one simple answer.

The debate over the all-time best tennis player - across male and female players - is a debate that is one of the most enduring across all sports.

From Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal on the men's side, to Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and Margaret Court on the women's side, there are always plenty of disagreements on exactly who is the best.

Based purely off Grand Slam titles, the winner would be Djokovic on the men's side and Court on the women's side, with both having 24 titles to their name.

Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles (Image: Getty)

But there is more to it than simply titles.

That is the opinion of 1996 Wimbledon men's singles champion Richard Krejicak, who believes that you can split the GOAT debate into two different arguments - the greatest player of all-time in terms of all-round impact on the sport, and the best player of all-time in terms of pure talent.

Krejicak thinks that the greatest player argument should always win out.

"I was talking to a friend of mine and we discussed who the greatest and the best athlete of all time is," he told South American outlet Bolavip in February.

"I think there is a big difference between being the greatest and the best.

"If we just talk about tennis, to be the greatest is something extra. That is about what somebody meant for the game.

"For me, the greatest player of all time is Roger Federer. What he has done for the game and his popularity say it all, but the best tennis player in history is Novak Djokovic.

"Without a doubt, I actually think that debate is very clear."

But who does Federer think is the tennis GOAT?

The Swiss icon has never officially stated his preference, although did suggest in a 2018 interview with Wall Street Journal that he believed Serena Williams to be the greatest.

Federer thinks Serena Williams is one of the tennis GOATs (Image: Getty)

"It's been fascinating to watch," he said. "She had a totally different upbringing - I came up through Switzerland with the federation, she did it with her dad and her sister.

"It's an amazing story unto itself. And then she became one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis player of all time."

Federer indicated he meant across men's and women's tennis with his last point, before adding: "It's not fair to compare, actually.

"But we know Serena is all the way up there. I'm probably up there with somebody, somehow.

"Maybe there's a group, a best of five, and you're in that group, you should be pleased and happy."