EXCLUSIVE | Robbie Koenig helps settle tennis’ GOAT debate
· The South African
Few subjects generate more debate in tennis than the question of who the greatest player of all time is.
Fans passionately defend their favourites. Statistics are dissected. Grand Slam titles are counted and recounted. Social media arguments rage endlessly between supporters of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
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Robbie Koenig has heard the debate countless times.
And frankly, he’s tired of it.
“I’m tired of all of the modern-day debate,” he says.
Rather than choosing one of the ‘Big Three’, Koenig’s answer takes tennis fans back several generations.
Why Bjorn Borg is His GOAT
For Koenig, the men’s GOAT is Sweden’s Bjorn Borg.
The choice is rooted as much in influence as achievement.
Growing up in South Africa, Borg was one of the players who inspired him to pick up a tennis racquet in the first place. More importantly, Koenig believes Borg transformed the sport in a way few athletes ever have.
“He was probably the first rock star of tennis worldwide.”
Borg’s coolness, charisma and effortless style helped tennis break beyond traditional sporting audiences. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, tennis players became global celebrities, attracting attention from musicians, actors, and cultural icons.
According to Koenig, Borg was at the centre of that transformation.
Alongside Borg was another childhood favourite: John McEnroe.
The contrast between the calm Swede and the fiery American helped create one of the sport’s most compelling rivalries.
“They were the perfect yin and yang for our sport.”
Martina Navratilova’s Extraordinary Legacy
On the women’s side, Koenig’s choice is equally emphatic.
Martina Navratilova stands alone.
“What Martina achieved is insane.”
While modern debates often focus heavily on singles success, Koenig points to Navratilova’s astonishing record across every discipline.
Her haul of 59 Grand Slam titles remains one of the most remarkable achievements in sporting history.
Eighteen came in singles, 31 in women’s doubles and another 10 in mixed doubles.
For Koenig, those numbers are almost difficult to comprehend.
“The minimum she won of a doubles Grand Slam was seven times.”
Her versatility, longevity, and dominance across formats make her the clear choice in his eyes.
The Rivalries That Changed Tennis
When discussing the most influential rivalries in tennis history, Koenig once again starts with Borg and McEnroe.
Their clashes helped elevate tennis to a new level of global popularity.
But he also believes later generations produced rivalries that fundamentally changed the sport.
Federer versus Nadal stands near the top of that list.
The contrast between their styles captivated audiences around the world. Federer represented elegance and creativity. Nadal brought relentless intensity and fighting spirit.
Together they created a rivalry that transcended tennis.
“I think Federer changed the sport the way Borg changed the sport.”
Koenig believes Federer, in particular, elevated tennis to extraordinary heights during the social media era, introducing millions of new fans to the game.
The Swiss star’s grace, shot making, and sportsmanship made him a uniquely powerful ambassador for the sport.
Why Today’s Players Surprise Him
Despite his admiration for past generations, Koenig has no interest in suggesting tennis has declined.
In fact, he believes today’s athletes are operating at a level that would have seemed almost unimaginable when he was playing professionally.
“These guys are so damn good.”
The biggest difference is athleticism.
Modern players move better, recover faster, and sustain higher levels of intensity for longer periods than ever before.
Technology has played a significant role.
Players now have access to online coaching resources, training methods, match footage and sports science information that previous generations could only dream about.
“When we were playing, it wasn’t like that at all.”
Knowledge that once took years to acquire is now available instantly.
The result is a deeper, stronger, and more athletic professional tour.
The Secret of Great Champions
For all the discussions about talent, Koenig believes greatness ultimately comes down to something surprisingly simple.
One phrase has stayed with him throughout his career.
“The mundanity of excellence.”
It describes the ability to execute basic tasks consistently, day after day, year after year.
According to Koenig, that’s what separates great players from great champions.
The willingness to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.
Whether it’s Novak Djokovic, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady or David Beckham, the principle remains the same.
Success isn’t built on occasional brilliance.
It’s built on relentless consistency.
And in Koenig’s eyes, that may be the most important lesson sport has to offer.
Coming in Part 5: Behind-the-scenes stories from the tennis tour, the hilarious Adelaide pre-season tale involving John-Laffnie de Jager, Koenig’s passions away from tennis, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
PART 1 | EXCLUSIVE | Robbie Koenig: From doubles specialist to the Voice of Tennis
PART 2 | EXCLUSIVE | Calling history: The matches and moments Robbie Koenig will never forget
PART 3 | EXCLUSIVE | The art of Robbie Koenig’s tennis commentary
Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the 2026 US Open in New York for The South African.