Australian Open: Rafael Nadal ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in GOAT race

Not only was Rafael Nadal playing for the Australian Open title on Sunday, he also had the chance to move clear in the race to be crowned the GOAT of men's tennis.

The number of Grand Slam titles is the most obvious and easiest metric for those who wish to determine — and not everyone does — who is the Greatest Of All Time.

Spaniard Nadal, 35, won in Melbourne to land his 21st major title, moving him one ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic after all three were tied on 20 Grand Slam singles victories.

Beating Daniil Medvedev for his second Australian Open title may prove to be pivotal in the race.

For some, the GOAT discussion is frivolous and does a disservice to the achievements of each player in their own right.

Looking purely at the numbers does not tell the full picture. It is not possible to quantify their different playing styles, how they have adapted their games, their physical and mental strength, nor how they have overcome the tough moments that have peppered all of their careers.

But it does provide the framework for the debate. Here, BBC Sport crunches the statistics for you to consider, and gives you the chance to have your say in the comments section at the bottom.

The race to be crowned the GOAT — in terms of major titles, at least — is tighter between the top three men than many thought it would ever be.

When Federer overtook Pete Sampras' previous best mark — winning his 15th Grand Slam title, aged 27, at Wimbledon in 2009 — few thought he would ever be caught.

At that stage, 23-year-old Nadal had won six majors and 22-year-old Djokovic had not added to his maiden title at the Australian Open in 2008.

After winning at least one major in every year from 2003-2010, Federer's trajectory began to plateau in