At the end of my most recent piece for this web site on the U.S. Open, I wrote, “The guess here is that he [Novak Djokovic] will play through 2025, add at least three or four more majors to his shining collection, and keep soaring through history on a singular path.There will never be a player who stands alone indisputably as the greatest of all time. That issue will always be passionately debated by those in the know, with differing views among the cognoscenti. But this much is certain: Novak Djokovic’s name will always be at the center of that conversation.”
Having had some time over the last month to think more about the fascinating G.O.A.T. debate that is embraced so readily by both the general sports public and diehard tennis fans, I would like to look more closely at Djokovic’s historical status.
I stand by what I wrote about a month ago. Not even the most erudite students of tennis history can state conclusively that any player is irrefutably the greatest of all time. There are many reasons that this is true. The sport has seen some towering champions come and go over the course of the past century, and in that span the competitive landscape has changed significantly.
The first enduringly important iconic players emerged in the 1920’s as tennis took on a new prominence in society. It was in that crucial decade that Bill Tilden defined what it meant to be a champion. Tilden was synonymous with tennis because he was in so many respects larger than the game he played so vigorously while collecting ten major titles. Across the 1930’s, the leading performer was none other than J. Donald Budge, who established himself in 1938 as the first player ever to win all four major championships in a single season for a Grand Slam.
Two more American icons became the dominant players of the forties and fifties. Jack Kramer took three majors in 1946-47 and was virtually unbeatable with his “Big Game”, dominating professional tennis from the end of 1947 through 1953.
Richard “Pancho” Gonzales was the leading professional champion of the second half of the 1950’s and on into the early sixties. While Tilden was a tactical genius and Budge transformed tennis with his majestic backhand. Kramer followed with a serve-volley package that was both revolutionary and unstoppable. Gonzales played essentially the same brand of attacking tennis as Kramer.
In the latter stages of the 1950’s, the explosively talented Australian Lew Hoad was at his zenith. In 1956, he moved within one match of a Grand Slam before losing a four set final at Forest Hills against countryman Ken Rosewall. Many who witnessed Hoad during his prime are convinced he was the most gifted champion the game has yet produced.
Over the course of the 1960’s, “Rocket” Rod Laver—a left-handed Australian dynamo— secured a pair of Grand Slams, taking the first as an amateur in 1962, winning the second seven years later as a professional in only the second year of “Open Tennis.” Laver, of course, belongs front and center in any conversation about authentic candidates worthy of wearing the G.O.A.T robe. So, too, does the estimable Pete Sampras, who concluded his career 21 years ago with a then record 14 majors as well as celebrating a record six consecutive years at No. 1 in the world from 1993-98. The imperturbable American prevailed in 14 of 18 major finals.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter Sampras wrapped up his career so stylishly by capturing the last official match he would ever play in the final of the 2002 U.S. Open against revered rival Andre Agassi, the potent trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic sweepingly altered the tennis landscape with a collective force of will and a ceaseless commitment to excellence that inspired sports fans in every corner of the globe who marveled at the astounding exploits of the Swiss maestro, the Spanish gladiator and the stupendous Serbian.
Youthful followers of the game erroneously believe that somehow no one who preceded these three gigantic figures can possibly be worthy of the loftiest historical praise. They too easily overlook the stature and achievements of yesteryear’s standout performers, although that is somewhat understandable in light of the enormity of what Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have accomplished in their golden era.
Federer’s milestones include a record eight men’s Wimbledon singles crowns, 20 majors altogether, an astonishing 237 consecutive weeks and 310 total weeks at No. 1 in the world, five year-end No. 1 honors, a remarkable 23 consecutive semifinals (or better) at the majors from 2004-2010 and 36 straight quarterfinals (or better) at the Grand Slam events from 2004-2013. He was victorious at 103 tournaments altogether, second only to Jimmy Connors (109) in the Open Era.
When Federer surpassed Sampras at the majors by claiming his 15th “Big Four” title at Wimbledon in 2009, he seemed certain to hold that record for a good long while. But appearances were deceiving. Nadal— five years younger than Federer—made up for lost time. He has amassed no fewer than 14 French Open titles between 2005 and 2022, along with two Wimbledon and two Australian Open crowns, not to mention four U.S. Opens. Nadal has managed to conclude five seasons (2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019) at No. 1.
He has been gone from the game since suffering a second round loss at the Australian Open this year, and no one knows quite what to expect from him when he returns next year. Be that as it may, the fact remains that the Spaniard owns 22 majors. As recently as the middle of 2022, he not only had moved past Federer at the premier championships, but also stood two ahead of Djokovic. Even if Nadal never competes again, his clay court supremacy sets him apart in some respects. He has taken 49 other titles on the dirt beyond his Roland Garros tournament wins. Moreover, he has garnered 29 more titles in his career away from clay, including 25 on hard courts. Moreover, Nadal spent a record 18 consecutive years (2005-2022) among the top ten. His record is prodigious.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd yet, among modern competitors, no one has accomplished more than Novak Djokovic. His record is even more versatile, far ranging and multi-dimensional than either Federer or Nadal. His numerical supremacy is indisputable. Djokovic is the only male player ever to win all four majors at least three times, realizing that feat by virtue of his Roland Garros triumph this year. He has lifted his staggering total of major titles to 24, four more than Federer, two ahead of Nadal. Only once in his career (2010), did the redoubtable Nadal collect three majors in a single season. Federer realized that considerable feat thrice (2004, 2006, 2007). Djokovic has done it in four different years (2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023).
While Nadal has captured only two indoor titles in his career and has never come through at the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals, Djokovic is a 17-times indoor tournament victor who is tied with Federer for the record as a six-time ATP Finals champion. On clay, Djokovic not only has his three French Open titles but also 16 more championships including eleven at Masters 1000 events— most notably six at the second biggest tournament of them all on the dirt in Rome.
Federer was a formidable clay court competitor but he triumphed only once at Roland Garros (in 2009) and took eleven titles on that surface, eight fewer than Djokovic.
There is more. Aside from the four majors and, arguably, the ATP Finals, the next most significant tournaments are the Masters 1000 events. They have grown steadily in prestige over the past couple of decades. Federer won 28 of those events. Nadal thus far has 36. Djokovic is the all time leader with 39.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs for consistency across the board at the Grand Slam championships, Djokovic’s record surpasses Federer’s. In 72 appearances at the majors, Djokovic has won one out of every three he has played, securing 24. He has been to the final in 36 of those tournaments— precisely half. He has advanced to the semifinals or beyond in 47 of his 72 majors. Federer was the champion in 20 of his 81 majors. He was in the final 31 times and a semifinalist or better on 46 occasions. Djokovic demonstrably has better Grand Slam tournament numbers than Federer, and both men surpass Nadal by a significant margin. Nadal has won nearly one third of his majors (22 titles in 67 tournaments), and his final round record (20-8) is better than Djokovic’s (24-12) or Federer’s (20-11). But he has not advanced to the semifinals in 29 of his major tournament appearances, which is a surprisingly high number for a player of his ilk.
To be sure, Nadal can be proud of his 6-3 record in major finals against Federer, and a 24-16 overall winning record versus the Swiss. Against Djokovic, Nadal is currently 29-30 in totality and 5-4 in major finals. Djokovic won four of his five final round meetings with Federer at the Grand Slam Championships and has a winning head to head record over each of his chief rivals—27-23 versus Federer, 30-29 over Nadal. At the end of 2010, the Serbian trailed Federer in their series 6-13 and simultaneously was well behind against Nadal at 7-16. The ground he made up against both luminaries from 2011 on was extraordinary.
Add up all of the numbers, and it is inarguable that Djokovic has outdone Federer and Nadal and all others in this remarkable era. He has resided at No. 1 in the world a record 393 weeks as this piece is printed (Federer is far behind in second place with 310 weeks), and has ended seven seasons at the top— two more than Nadal and Federer. To be fair, although it is unlikely that Nadal will win any more majors, he can’t be counted out. His reservoir of pride is vast and immeasurable. His body has been battered for too long and the cumulative impact has been devastating. But Nadal has bounced back resoundingly so frequently that only a fool would write him off.
Be that as it may, even if the Spaniard somehow summons a 15th title run in Paris next June at 38, Djokovic, who turns 37 in May, will be priming for every major over the next couple of seasons with the same purposefulness he displayed this year. As I wrote at the top of this piece, the Serbian seems fully capable of winning three or four more Grand Slam tournaments before he bids farewell to tennis. His determination knows no bounds. His steely resolve is unshakable. His mental toughness and supreme professionalism are the potent twin motors of his triumphs.
The case for Djokovic as the best tennis player of all time is powerful, widespread and persuasive. His credentials are unassailable. He has established himself as a match player of the highest order. No one has turned in so many splendid performances under the harsh light of pressure in the tournaments that have meant the most.
He almost seems to relish opportunities to test himself under almost unbearably tense circumstances against his foremost adversaries, and meet those moments forthrightly. Go back in the eye of your mind and recollect Djokovic rescuing himself in the fifth set of his titanic encounter with Nadal in the final of the 2012 Australian Open, when the Spaniard served at 4-2, 30-15 before the Serbian captured five of six games to prevail 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in five hours and fifty three minutes.
Think of Djokovic twice rallying valiantly from double match point down to topple Federer in five set semifinals at the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Open semifinals. Bring back into your mind the 2019 Wimbledon final when Federer served for the match at 8-7, 40-15 in the fifth set of a Centre Court classic against Djokovic. Somehow Djokovic found his way to a 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3) victory after four hours and 57 minutes. Finally, reflect on the Cincinnati final this past summer between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, which had the feeling of a Grand Slam final. Djokovic was in a dire predicament, behind a set and a break on a scorching day. He made it to a second set tiebreak but was down match point. And yet, in the end, after three hours and forty nine minutes of bruising and spellbinding tennis, he stopped the Spaniard 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4).
There have been many more Djokovic triumphs cut from a similar mould. These monumental victories have defined who Djokovic is and what he is made of. Surely there is more to come from this man of immense stature who has so openly targeted the toughest historical milestones, and so genuinely wants to be remembered as the best ever to pick up a racket. He has never been bashful about how he wants to be regarded, and has left no stone unturned in his pursuit of the loftiest goals that can be attained in tennis. He has been commendably willing to accept the consequences of being judged by the highest standards— even by himself. I have never seen a player demand more of himself in my 58 years of observing top flight tennis.
I believe he may very well be the greatest player in the history of the game, but I would assert unequivocally that he is the finest player of the Open Era which commenced 55 years ago. The enduring achievements, the arc of his career at and near the top for the past 17 years, the many ways he finds to beat different opponents with varying game plans, the completeness of his game and the layers he has added to his play over the years, the incomparable willpower and steadfastness he has displayed as a competitor—all of these traits have contributed to making Novak Djokovic the rarest of champions.
A brief examination of Djokovic’s statistics compiled by the ATP Tour explain with utter clarity why he succeeds so frequently. He has been the best front runner in tennis. Across his career, Djokovic’s match record is 936-41 (.958) after he has won the first set, the best of all documented players. After losing the first set, he is in second place behind Laver at 141-170 (.453). In tie-breaks, Djokovic stands atop the list for all male players at 319-163 (.662). He stands at No. 8 all time in five set contests on a percentage basis at 38-11 (.776), and is No. 4 on the “deciding set” list at 206-79 (.723).
Embed from Getty ImagesDjokovic must be commended for his longterm excellence, but I hope that those who examine tennis history with a seriousness of purpose will be fair to standouts who scaled the heights in tennis before Djokovic rewrote the record books, and to those who will come to the forefront of the sport in the years to come. The male champions who competed prior to the advent of Open Tennis in 1968 played were living in a fragmented world. The top players like Gonzales and Kramer would turn pro and were then barred from the majors. After Laver turned pro at the end of 1962 he missed the next 21 majors. It was a different universe. Meanwhile, I still believe that Pete Sampras at his best was better than anyone on the fastest surfaces. His serve was the most lethally efficient weapon tennis has ever known.
In the years to come, Alcaraz will pile up majors relentlessly. Let’s see what the Spaniard, Jannik Sinner and others can accomplish both before and after Djokovic retires. Fifty years from now, there will be at least three or four players not yet born who may be authentic candidates for the G.O.A.T label. But there can be no doubt that Djokovic will leave tennis after a few more productive years knowing he has done everything he possibly could on the court to lead the vast majority of tennis critics toward classifying him as the preeminent tennis player of all time. His body of work is so voluminous that the likes of Alcaraz, Sinner— and the fellows who follow them— will all be exceedingly hard pressed to ever measure up to one Novak Djokovic.
