I gained undeserved notoriety in July 2021, following Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon victory over Matteo Berrettini. Being a lifetime admirer of Roger Federer, I had attempted to write about the Serb’s greatness—as well as my distaste for it—in a way that I believed would make for an engaging read. It appeared that I was successful in my endeavour, despite receiving several hundred death threats.
It was Djokovic’s 20th Grand Slam victory at Wimbledon. He tied Federer and Nadal in the Slam chase with that Major. Three years later, Djokovic now has 24 under his belt. Federer, who is still only twenty, is no longer in retirement and has adopted the persona of an avid traveler who explores the world and discovers the undiscovered wonders of nature. At the age of 22, Nadal is a father and nearly ready to retire from competition, much like his Swiss friend.
Djokovic: What is he doing? Yes, he continues to irritate me. I had to witness him pull off yet another incredible feat just this past Sunday. The 37-year-old, who was hunched over on one knee and pumped up on “Inat,” demonstrated to Carlos Alcaraz what it’s like to confront a man who is in a tight spot and would sooner die than lose what he truly desired.
Djokovic has previously competed in four Olympics: he finished fourth in Tokyo, bronze in Sydney, nothing in London, and first round elimination in Rio. This is GOOD for the average tennis player, heck, even for the world-class player. This is appropriate. This is how the world operates. However, not for this Belgrade boy.The absence of an Olympic gold medal was painful for someone whose entire life had been built on winning. terribly. especially because Nadal, his fiercest opponent, only had one (two if you include doubles). Andy Murray, one of his fiercest competitors, also had two (both in singles). Federer, another of his competitors, was not as successful as him in the singles division, but he was still in second place with a silver. Additionally, the Swiss had a double gold.
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Following his gold medal in the Paris Olympics, Novak Djokovic will receive a museum in Serbia, similar to Rafael Nadal’s museum in Mallorca
Tennis – Day 9 of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
It was only fitting that Djokovic’s primary objective for the year would be to win the gold in Paris. The Olympics were the only major tennis tournaments; forget about the French, Australian, Wimbledon, and US Opens. It was his chance to ‘complete’ tennis and prove to the world that he was capable of winning every crown.
And he carried it out. He did, very annoyingly. Every day I would watch him do it, swearing under my breath and getting angry. At first, I predicted that Stefanos Tsitsipas would triumph. After all, with Djokovic on the bench complaining to his doctor about his knee, the Greek was leading by two breaks in the second set. I assumed that this was all. Inanely. I decided that Father Time had the last laugh. foolishly.That day, Novak Djokovic did not even drop a set against Tsitsipas. I then assumed Lorenzo Musetti would pull it off. Ultimately, the Italian was at the peak of his abilities, while his opponent was literally collapsing. How incredibly foolish of me. That day, Djokovic did not even drop a set against Musetti.
Not a huge concern. Carlos Alcaraz competed in the final. The Selected Individual. I don’t know if when his mother gave birth, angels descended from the sky and sang next to his bed, but if someone told me that they did, I wouldn’t doubt it. Alcaraz exudes an aura, to use a term that is often overused. Federer’s style, Rafael Nadal’s perseverance, and Djokovic’s own mental depravity. The Big-3’s ideal love child.
This was Alcaraz, who had defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final a month prior. Three faultless sets on grass, which the Serb had virtually annually feasted on. Alcaraz, the reigning French Open winner, would undoubtedly perform better on clay. Djokovic was also physically disintegrating. To put it mildly, he was on half his knee. Alcaraz would undoubtedly do it. Correct? RIGHT?That day, Novak Djokovic didn’t even drop a set against the Spaniard. I feel like it was a million years ago, that day. There are two tiebreakers. Two resolute mainstays, with one having slightly greater tenacity than the other. 21 years as opposed to 37. No, put that away. This was the release of 17 years of suppressed resentment directed at a youngster who had no idea what he had committed to.
Although Alcaraz had previously seen Djokovic, he had not seen THIS Djokovic. This was, to use Brandon Sanderson’s phrase, a Whitespine Uncaged. This was a Djokovic that was unbeatable. Predestined? Perhaps. Did that really matter, though?Alcaraz could have devised a billion different strategies and a million various preparations for that final, but he was never successful. Djokovic would always be beaming with happiness. Djokovic would always give his daughter a hug. It was inevitable that Djokovic would bite that damn gold medal.
Tennis – Day 9 of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris – Source: Getty
This begs the question: Is Novak Djokovic the current unquestioned greatest of all time? In the Open Era, he has the most Grand Slam victories. The most Masters 1000 championships belong to him. The most ATP Finals titles belong to him. The gold in the Olympics is finished. As the World No. 1 he has the most weeks. Most top finishes at year’s conclusion. He completed everything. No one has done it as well as he has. That means it’s resolved, right?
Alright, no!To begin with, those who said that Novak Djokovic wasn’t the greatest of all time prior to the Olympics in Paris never did so because he didn’t win the gold. While the Olympics hold great significance, Djokovic’s status as the greatest of all time has never been compromised by them alone (at least that is my honest opinion). The Serb is pleased with the nice closure it provides. Regarding the distinction between being the GOAT and not the GOAT, what is it? I apologise, but no.
Secondly, there exists a great deal of ambiguity surrounding the phrase “Greatest,” which defies meaningful resolution. Is the all-time greatest tennis player, Novak Djokovic? Absolutely, without a doubt. That is true, and I will attest to it with an affidavit. Is Novak Djokovic the most successful tennis player in history? Indeed, sir. Nobody is able to match him. The “Greatest,” though? I beg to differ.In fact, one could make a strong case—one that Federer has played a major role in popularising tennis throughout Europe and even Asia. He is so adored worldwide for a reason. Even after retiring, there’s a good reason he remains in the top half of the world’s highest-paid athletes.
People were drawn in by his game, which he subsequently used to captivate them for years. Every time he advanced to the final, he ensured that Grand Slams turned into a festival and created lifelong fans of the sport.Serena Williams accomplished the same for women’s sports in the US as well as tennis. Racial and socioeconomic boundaries were broken by her, and she achieved so despite coming from a background that hardly ever made it to the top levels of tennis.
Steffi Graf achieved amazing feats. Andre Agassi achieved amazing feats. Borg Bjorn. Pete Sampras. Rafael Nadal. Rod Laver. Each and every one of them accomplished amazing things in some way that, with enough effort, could be the subject of a debate.This is the exact point at which the G in the GOAT argument falters. It is incredibly problematic to characterise someone by the term “greatest.” There will always be an excess of viewpoints, and it is quite difficult to persuade someone to disagree with one once they have made up their mind. No one is incorrect, and everyone is correct. All others are mistaken, and you are correct. Additionally.
This is where things become complicated, and this is where I wade into the controversy: Unfortunately, there are a lot of good arguments against Novak Djokovic’s excellence outside of tennis. I won’t delve into specifics about any of them because you already know what I’m going to discuss.
the fact that, despite scientists’ pleas for vaccination during the height of the pandemic, he chose not to receive the COVID-19 shot. Did he correctly refer to it as physical autonomy? Indeed. But would a world-class athlete of such high standing have a moral obligation to do so without fully educating his followers about the significance of the vaccine? Yes, as well. Do not misunderstand; Djokovic has explicitly stated that he is not a “antivaxx,” as the younger generation would say. However, his behaviour is also not anti-antivaxx.
Additionally, he supported a dubious Bosnian pyramid that purported to have healing properties and a pseudoscience “health guru” who asserted that water could be mentally altered to change its energetic properties. NOTHING about this detracts from his on-court tennis performance. When it comes to the game’s rules, he is still brilliant. But beyond it? In the modern era of quick-fix fake news and anti-scientific nonsense? It’s more than sufficient to sneer at someone.
Therefore, no, I’m not required to accept the assertions that Novak Djokovic is currently the indisputable greatest player in tennis history. People will approach me and tell me that it is “woke” to suggest he is not the best player of all time, that I should just evaluate him based on his performance in the sport, and that I should separate the art from the artist.However, I am unable to. Like many others before me, I have decided to die on this particular hill. Will their motivations coincide with mine? Most likely not. It is irrelevant anyhow. After the Olympics in Paris, nothing has changed for us, although we may have become a little more sour.
fantastic, fantastic tennis player Novak Djokovic. To enjoy him more, all I would ask is that he act a little differently when he’s not holding a tennis racket.
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