Tennis fans love talking about the greatest of all time, and these four names always come up. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams each won the biggest titles in the sport over many years. This One Gotta Go card asks which legend you would remove from tennis history.
Think about the matches you remember most, the playing styles you love to watch and the records each player set. Then make your pick and see if the tennis fans at the table can talk you out of it.
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic vs Serena Williams
A. Roger Federer
Roger Federer won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and was famous for a smooth, graceful style that made tennis look easy. He retired in 2022. The case against him is that his main rivals went on to win more Grand Slams, which some fans count against him.
Keep it if: You love the most graceful player you've ever seen, and Federer's style is what tennis means to you.
B. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 French Opens, and was known for his energy and heavy topspin. He retired in 2024. The case against him is that so much of his success came on clay, which some fans hold against him.
Keep it if: You love Nadal's energy, his never-quit attitude and his amazing run at the French Open.
C. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic holds the men's record for Grand Slam singles titles and is known for incredible defense and flexibility. Many call him the most complete player. The case against him is that some fans never connected with him the way they did with the others.
Keep it if: You go by the record books, and Djokovic's titles and consistency make him your pick.
D. Serena Williams
Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, a record in the Open Era, with one of the most powerful serves the game has seen. She retired in 2022. The case against cutting her is huge, which is exactly why this card is so hard.
Keep it if: You think Serena is the greatest athlete in tennis history and her power changed the game.
Our take
We'd cut Federer, which is painful to say. He may be the most graceful player ever, but on pure numbers Nadal and Djokovic both passed his Grand Slam total, and Serena's 23 titles stand on their own. Expect the most fun debate between Djokovic's record-book fans and the Federer loyalists who care most about style. For a bonus round, ask everyone to name the single match they remember best and see how many pick the same one.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which GOAT case holds up best under pressure?
- Do Grand Slam titles decide the GOAT, or does playing style matter too?
- Which player's matches were the most fun to watch?
- Which tennis legend deserves a spot on this card instead?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Tennis GOATs: quick answers
Who is the greatest tennis player of all time?
It depends on how you measure it. Novak Djokovic holds the men's record for Grand Slam singles titles, Rafael Nadal won a record 14 French Opens, Roger Federer is admired for his style and Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles. That's why the GOAT debate is so fun.
How many Grand Slams did Federer and Nadal win?
Roger Federer won 20 Grand Slam singles titles before retiring in 2022. Rafael Nadal won 22, including 14 French Open titles, before retiring in 2024. Their rivalry, along with Novak Djokovic, defined men's tennis for about two decades.
