3. Overtaking his idol
Djokovic now has 15 grand slam titles to his name. The third highest tally in the history of men’s tennis and five adrift from Roger Federer, who is six years older than him. He has now also won more major trophies than Pete Sampras. One of the players that inspired him to play the sport. The two never played each other on the tour. Sampras retired at the 2002 US Open when Djokovic was just 15-years-old.
“He was someone that I looked up to. When I was starting to play tennis, one of the first images of tennis in general was him playing Wimbledon.” He said.
“I was a small boy in Kopaonik, this mountain resort in the south of Serbia. Nobody has ever touched the tennis racquet before me. I did not have a tennis tradition in my family. I did have sports tradition.
“So it was definitely a sign of destiny to start playing tennis, to aspire to be as good as Pete. To surpass him with Grand Slam titles, I’m speechless.“
Djokovic Vs Sampras record (as of 27/1/18)
| Novak Djokovic |
Pete Sampras
|
|||||||
| 15 | Grand slam titles |
14
|
||||||
| 32 | Masters 1000 titles |
11
|
||||||
| 235 | Weeks at No.1 |
286
|
||||||
| $125.8M (not including 2019 Aus Open) | Career prize money |
$43.28M
|
