'I faced Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – one killed me on court but isn't the GOAT'

The debate over which player among tennis' 'Big Three' deserves the title of greatest ever will seemingly rumble on forever. However, for former pro Steve Darcis, there is no debate at all.

The Belgian - forever etched into Wimbledon folklore thanks to his shock triumph over Rafael Nadal in 2013 - held the rare privilege of competing against him, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic while each was at the height of their powers.

Very few players can claim to have faced all three at their peak and even fewer can describe the contrasts between them. Each encounter gave Darcis a revealing - and often harsh - lesson in supreme talent. However, one man stood out, leaving Darcis feeling not just outplayed but utterly powerless.

"The best for me by far is Roger. He killed me," the 41-year-old told the Express. "I played Rafa... he will usually beat you, but even if you lose 6-2, 6-2, there are [lots of] rallies. You have the feeling that you probably cannot win, but that you are not so far [away from winning].

"It's the same with Djokovic," he added. "I played him a few times, I could have won sets, I was serving for the set one time. I had a few chances. Even if you lose at the end, you feel like you've played tennis - it's just that he is better than you. He is more solid, mentally stronger. But you have the feeling you are not so far.

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"But with Roger, if he is in a good day, you have the feeling that you cannot play tennis. After 30 minutes it's already 6-1, 3-0. It's very tough."

Darcis was quick to concede that, when judged purely by trophies, Djokovic's case for the GOAT title is hard to dispute. The figures, he acknowledges, tell a persuasive story.

"If you have to pick someone [as the greatest of all time], you have to read the statistics. And there is only one guy who is winning all the statistics. This is Djokovic," Darcis said. "But if you ask me which is the best player in one match, I think it's Federer."

Over a 17-year professional career, Darcis established a steady presence on the ATP Tour, claiming two titles and guiding Belgium to two Davis Cup finals. However, his enduring legacy is less about career length than one remarkable day at the All England Club in 2013.

Darcis entered Court One as a near-anonymity, ranked 130 spots below Nadal. The Spaniard arrived as one of the tournament favourites, fresh from another French Open victory and expected to advance easily in the opening rounds.

Instead, Darcis produced one of the most astonishing upsets SW19 has ever seen, defeating Nadal in straight sets. It marked Nadal's first-ever first-round loss at a Grand Slam - a result that cemented Darcis' place in tennis history.

"I was thinking the same thing as everybody else might [when the draw was made]," Darcis admitted. "It's a bad draw, I'm not going to be here long. I'm soon going to be at home.

"But then I thought to myself, I'm playing good, let's try and let's play my game, not his. I wanted to risk a little bit more, to go for it, because if you want to play the rally against Rafa you know you have no chance. I really tried to push myself to be a bit more aggressive."

Darcis claimed the most important win of his career with a 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 result. For a fleeting moment, it was sheer joy - the shock of Wimbledon, Nadal's fall, the realisation of a lifelong ambition. But the elation was short-lived.

Partway through the match, trouble had already struck. A sharp pain pierced Darcis' shoulder, worsening as the contest progressed. By the time he left the court, only adrenaline allowed his arm to move.

The upset that shocked the tennis world came with a harsh personal price. In defeating Nadal, Darcis had torn a ligament in his shoulder. The injury forced him to withdraw immediately and ultimately kept him off the court for a full year, requiring surgery and a grueling rehabilitation.

"I had really bad shoulder pain during the match. I had this pain for two games and then it was over. But like 10 minutes after the match I couldn't lift my shoulder," he recalled. "After the match I knew it was really bad, I couldn't move my arm... I had a torn ligament, I had to have surgery and I couldn't play for one year.

"It was one of the best wins of my life, but it started one of the worst years... I tried everything to keep playing, injection, to have a small chance.

"But when my coach threw me the first ball of the practice two days after I couldn't hit the ball. It was bad. Mentally, I was feeling very bad."

A triumph that should have opened doors ended up closing them - leaving Darcis with eternal Wimbledon fame, but at the lonely cost of what it took to reach it.