Rafael Nadal: 'Don't fool yourself - Novak Djokovic will win Grand Slam race'

Rafael Nadal has conceded that rival Novak Djokovic is the favourite to win the Grand Slam race ahead of himself and Roger Federer.

Currently all three are tied on 20 career majors as what has been an unprecedented era for men's tennis begins to draw to a conclusion.

However, Djokovic is the youngest of the three and he is also the healthiest, with both Nadal and Federer missing most of this season with seriou sinjuries.

"Djokovic is best positioned to be the (men's) player with the most Grand Slams," the world number six told Vamos on Movistar+.

"You don't have to fool yourself - Federer is where he is and I am where I am - however Djokovic is playing well and in a good moment.

"That is the reality and you can't ignore it - we don't know what is going to happen in nine months' time, but he is the favourite right now."

Any of the big three's quest to win what would be a record-breaking 21st major is sure to be complicated by the rise of a very talented new generation of players.

The likes of Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas have long been herelded as the 'Next Gen,' but Nadal says those days are very much now over.

"They are no longer the Next Gen, we do not have to make it eternal," Nadal said.

"Player like Medvedev, Zverev or Tsitsipas have already passed that stage of the Next Gen, they are the current generation, the present."

Medvedev won his first major at the US Open this year, whilst Zverev and Tsitsipas have both already reached a Grand Slam final.