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Chris Evert’s Ex-Husband Hails ‘Artist’ Roger Federer Over Arch-Rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – ‘Shots That Defy Possibilities’

Published 06/19/2023, 7:31 AM EDT

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“The metaphysical explanation is that Roger Federer is one of those rare, preternatural athletes who appear to be exempt, at least in part, from certain physical laws.” Perhaps no other combination of words could summarize Roger Federer’s on-court magnificence more aptly than this excerpt from American novelist David Foster Wallace’s famous New York Times article on Federer from 2006.

Much has changed since then – records have been broken and new fandoms have been created. But 3 men have always been at the forefront – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. In a recent podcast, former British tennis player John Lloyd picked his personal favorite from the ‘big 3’, and it pleasantly reminded us of Foster Wallace’s sentiments.

John Lloyd explains how Roger Federer stands out from the rest

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Many claim that the last 20 years or so have been the greatest era in men’s tennis. With the epic rivalries and some of the most intriguing battles being fought between The Big 3, it is hard to argue with that.

Former British number 1 and ex-husband of the legendary Chris Evert, John Lloyd, has revealed whom he considers the ‘most beautiful’ player among the 3. While speaking about The Big 3 in a recent podcast with Tennis Channel named Inside-In, Lloyd said, “For me, the prettiest player to watch, the most beautiful, the most artistic out of the whole lot is Roger Federer. For me, he is the maestro. Every match you see him play, he would come up with, conjure these 4-5 shots that defy possibilities, and he does it no problem.”

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Given their incredible success on the court, the G.O.A.T debate has revolved around these 3 behemoths for the past many years. And clearly, Lloyd has put Roger Federer’s elegant style of play much ahead of rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

READ MORE: 41-Year-Old Roger Federer Puts Days of Novak Djokovic Speculation to Rest in His Style as He Graciously Sends 1-Word Message Whilst in London for Wimbledon Championships

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Is the golden era of men’s tennis reaching its twilight?

As all great things come to an end, the era of the famous triumvirate in tennis is slowly fading away. With Roger Federer retiring from the sport in 2022 and Rafael Nadal’s final run on the cards, the end looks all the more imminent. However, Novak Djokovic is still going strong, with the Serb bagging a record-breaking 23rd grand slam at the recently concluded French Open.

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The world of tennis has seen quite a few timeless superstars over the years. Ones that transcend generations, whose lasting impact lingers on forever, sometimes even beyond the realm of the sport. Certainly, these 3 will make the top of that list.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Roger Federer Pulling Off ‘GOAT Sh*t’ With Absolute Ease Against a Helpless Nick Kyrgios Leaves Tennis Fans in Splits

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Written by:

Prithviraj Roy

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Prithviraj Roy is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports. With an academic background in Journalism & Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), he has more than 2 years of experience as a Content Writer. Prithviraj has been a die-hard fan of the 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal since his childhood years.
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