For most people, the debate is over: Novak Djokovic is the GOAT of tennis. Thanks to his victory against Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open, the Serbian won his 24th Grand Slam title, two more than Rafael Nadal (and four more than Roger Federer).
In the history of tennis, the only person who can rival the nickname “Nole” is Margaret Court, also 24 major titles. But the Australian won 13 before the start of the Open era.
For some, like the Twitter account below, the Belgrade resident is even the greatest sportsman of all time.
I’ll restate again:
Djokovic not only just the greatest tennis player ever, but the greatest athlete ever.
The combination of technique, physicality, athleticism, endurance, mental toughness, tactical brilliance and longevity in its own class.
— The Big Three (@Big3Tennis) September 11, 2023
“Who is the greatest sportsman of all time?” This is a debate that could liven up bistro discussions, leaning on the bar. Obviously, it is impossible to agree on such a subject. Comparing monuments from different sports and different eras is almost pointless.
Nevertheless, the question was asked of Djokovic during the Serbian part of his press conference following his coronation in New York. Could he be the greatest of all time in all sports?
“I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not I deserve to be part of this debate,” he replied. “But one thing is certain, if I had not been from Serbia, I would have been glorified for years in sporting terms, especially in the West.”
“But it’s part of my journey, and I’m grateful and proud to be Serbian – it makes my achievements even more valuable,” he added.
A personal story crucial to Djokovic’s success
During his speech during the trophy presentation, Djokovic repeated what he had said many times before. Recalling his past, his youth, he stressed how incredible it was for him to have become a professional player, then to have broken the record for weeks spent as world number 1 and to have won 24 world titles. Grand Slam.
Answering questions from the international press, Djokovic explained how his personal story made achieving his childhood dreams – winning Wimbledon and becoming world number 1 – and then surpassing them, even more extraordinary.
“These were already extremely high ambitions for someone from a family with no tennis tradition, a little boy from Serbia, a war-torn country, which experienced the embargo and sanctions, who played a very expensive sport and almost inaccessible,” he recalled.
Djokovic: “It was extremely difficult, with many obstacles and atrocities to face”
“The chances were pretty slim for my family and I, but we did it,” he continued. “I say ‘we’, because I owe a lot to my family, to my parents who made so many sacrifices for me to be here. And it’s not a cliché. I really think so. The path was extremely difficult, they had to face a lot of obstacles and atrocities when you think about it. And, in this context, supporting your child in such an expensive sport might be the last thing you worry about.”
“It was more about bringing bread to the table at that point,” he continued. “So looking back on the whole journey, it’s been incredible and we can all be very proud. The education I had, and the experiences I had during my childhood allow me to appreciate this moment even more (the victory at the US Open), and all the other great moments of my career in the history of tennis. .”
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2023-09-12 19:22:08
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