So a couple of things
1. Obviously 04-07 Fed is the peak of the sport, maybe the peak of any sport. Anyone would objectively admit this. But at the same time Novak from 11-15 is arguably in the conversation. That period is the only comparable period another player has had, and that obviously matters. Nadal's peak, probably 08-11, is at least a tier below Fed and Novak's peaks.
2. Majors are important in the GOAT debate, without a doubt, but majors always have a fair amount of luck involved. To me the biggest factor for GOAT should be weeks at #1. You can't stay at #1 for any significant amount of time by luck, and the tennis ranking system with defending points makes staying at #1 even harder. You can win quite a few majors with draw luck, injury luck, or plain dumb luck. Novak will probably end up with 100 more weeks at #1 than Fed, and double the weeks at #1 as Nadal. Certainly matters a lot.
3. Novak's likability path with the fans is kinda hilarious when you think about it. When he showed big talent, but was always losing to Nadal and Fed, he was quite liked as you recall. Then when he started winning more than he lost to them, the fans started to turn. And then of course in that 11-15 run, when he was the dominant force by far, he became utterly despised. Just funny that the biggest reason fans hate him is he blocked Fedal from more majors. The dick behavior really started after that, and I kinda like that he embraced full heel. Sport would have been more boring otherwise.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
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