How is Novak Djokovic’s own script shaping up as he looks to take over a good percentage of the GOAT debate among tennis fans? Amir Rashid explores more on this issue…
Two decades back, the argument about the greatest of all time or GOAT in men’s tennis was contested primarily between Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg. However, then a certain Swiss maestro named Roger Federer and the matador from Spain called Rafael Nadal etched their name firmly in the debate. Most tennis lovers would either side with Roger or Rafa to be the best player ever in tennis.
In the last decade much has changed in tennis. A player from the little known nation of Serbia, Novak Djokovic has dominated most part of last 10 years. He has now put himself thoroughly and firmly into the debate of being the greatest male tennis player that ever lived. Let’s look at Novak’s resume and how his illustrious career could end up as the best ever in tennis.
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17 Slams and Counting…
As Novak Djokovic lifted the Norman Brookes trophy after the 2020 Australian Open win, the Serb took his Grand Slam count to 17. Novak is now just two slams shy of Rafael Nadal’s slam count of 19. Also, for the first time in his career the Serb trails Roger Federer by just three slams.
With his dominance of grass and hard courts unchallenged in last 2 years, the world number one could end the year 2020 with possibly 18 or maybe even 19 Grand Slam titles.
That could put him on level terms or one slam away from his other 2 rivals, provided Rafa wins this year again in Paris. Djokovic being the younger and fitter player than the other two may well end his career winning more Grand Slams than Roger and Rafa, the two players he has been chasing throughout his entire career.
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Closing on in the Weeks as Number 1
Novak has again risen to the top of ATP rankings after his Australian Open triumph. This means that he further adds to his 275 weeks at World Number 1. If Djokovic manages to hold on to his position at the top of ATP rankings, he could well pass Sampras and Federer. This looks highly probable as the Serb superstar has very less points to defend in the sunshine double.
At the clay court season, Novak will have to defend 180 points at Monte Carlo, 1000 at Madrid, 600 at Rome and 720 at the French Open.
This adds up to about 2500 but is still far less than the mammoth 3900 points his nearest competitor Rafa Nadal needs to defend. It could thus be said that Novak’s throne at the top of ATP rankings is secure for now, as he chases Federer’s total weeks at World Number 1.
Double Career Slam a Possibility?
At the Australian Open, it was Rafa Nadal chasing the double career slam. Now as the French Open arrives in June, it will be Novak Djokovic who will have his chances to win at least 2 slams on each of the 4 venues. Novak has already won the French Open once back in 2016. He has also been to 4 finals at Roland Garros, while finishing as the runner up thrice.
In 2019, the world number one lost a titanic five-set battle against Austria’s Dominic Thiem. If Novak manages to conquer Paris in 2020, he would become the only male player in the Open Era to win a double career slam.
Djokovic also has a favourable head to head record against both his great rivals Roger and Rafa. He has also managed to hold all 4 majors at the same time in 2015-16, the 2nd only male player after Rod Laver to do so. Novak has won all the 9 Masters 1000 events in tennis, a feat known as Golden Masters. All this puts the Serb superstar in a league of his own in the GOAT debate.
He may not be the crowd favourite in tennis but he is certainly the experts and betting prediction favourite in most matches. Novak Djokovic is certainly writing his own script in the ages old GOAT story of tennis.
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