Bjorn Borg reveals where he ranks Djokovic, Nadal & Federer in 'Best of Big-3' list

Bjorn Borg revealed his order of preference among the Big Three — Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. The tennis legend also shared his thoughts on who would win if he were to face Nadal on clay.

Bjorn Borg was a teenage sensation who rose to fame in a short time, winning 11 major singles titles between 1974 and 1981, the most by any player in the Open Era at that point. His dominance gave the sport the edge during the 1970s, and his rivalries with Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe were ones for the record books. However, Borg unexpectedly retired at 25, and his comeback in 1991 didn't turn out to be successful.

Recovering from prostate cancer, the Swedish player stays associated with the sport and even captained at the Laver Cup for seven years. In a recent conversation with Marca, when asked how he would rank the legendary 'Big Three', he placed Djokovic first, followed by Nadal and Federer.

"First Djokovic, then Nadal and Federer, tied."

When asked who would win if he were to clash against the 'King of Clay' on the latter's preferred surface, where he has won a record 14 Roland Garros titles, the Swedish unhesitatingly took the Spaniard's name and also gave a logical reason.

"If I play my best tennis and he does too, Nadal wins. Because we're talking about a different game. Tennis wasn't the same in my generation as it was in the era of Rafa, Federer, and Djokovic. What Nadal did at Roland Garros is unique and will never be seen again in sports. It's the greatest thing that's ever been done."

Nadal received a royal send-off at the Roland Garros this year, as he capped his illustrious career.

Bjorn Borg once hailed Djokovic for his tennis at 38

The Serbat the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship - Source: Getty

Bjorn Borg has often praised Nadal for defying belief by amassing a staggering number of titles on clay, where he also wrote several success stories. But after Nadal and Federer retired and the Serb continued his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title at 38, Borg called him the “greatest player to have ever played,” ranking him above his fellow luminaries. Hailing him, he said:

"It's amazing how he can play that kind of tennis, 38 years old. I'm very impressed. I know he wants to win that 25th Grand Slam tournament. I hope he's going to play one more year, at least next year too, because of the tennis he's playing." (interview with Sy Sports)

Djokovic ended his season after the 2025 Hellenic Championships, where he won his 101st career title.