He had not played a tournament since securing his 24th major at the U.S. Open on September 10— or a match of any kind since representing Serbia in Davis Cup the following week—using that time to rest his body, ease his mind and zero in on the arduous path ahead. He was probably not expecting too much from himself at the Rolex Paris Masters after being away from the competitive world of professional tennis for such a long time.

As if he did not have enough to worry about upon his return to the ATP Tour, he then was hit hard by a stomach ailment midweek in Paris that complicated matters considerably.

Be that as it may, Novak Djokovic somehow survived a harrowing week in France and ultimately collected his 40th Masters 1000 crown, his 97th career singles championship, and his sixth title of 2023 in only eleven 2023 tournament appearances. Despite obvious discomfort and a string of three excruciating encounters leading up to the final that pushed him to his absolute limits and tested comprehensively not only his physical durability  but, even more so, his emotional stability, Djokovic moved past his difficulties and found victory deservedly in the end. The biggest weapon in tennis these days is his incomparable mind.

Djokovic’s final round triumph over a revitalized Grigor Dimitrov was straightforward and largely devoid of suspense because the Serbian was immensely disciplined and resolute. He did not face a break point in nine service games across two sets, dissecting his adversary 6-4, 6-3 with his usual pride and professionalism. From start to finish, Djokovic was determined to finish this piece of business swiftly and methodically, and he did just that.

In the early stages, Djokovic was somewhat apprehensive, falling behind 15-30 in the second game on his serve and trailing 0-30 when he served at 1-2. But he met those moments with his usual clarity and conviction. In the latter of those games, he was particularly impressive. On the 0-30 point he opened up the court with a backhand crosscourt approach that set up a scintillating backhand angled drop volley winner. He followed with a service winner down the T, coaxed an error off the Dimitrov backhand slice, and then took his fourth point in a row by sending Dimitrov side to side with controlled aggression until he elicited an error.

At 3-3, Djokovic made his move. His returns in that entire seventh game were remarkable. At 30-40, Dimitrov sent a first serve wide to the Djokovic backhand that should have been a point winner.  Yet Djokovic lunged to his left, blocked the return back low and short, and provoked a netted a topspin backhand from Dimitrov.

Djokovic had the break for 4-3 and made it count. He held at love with two service winners and an ace to reach 5-3. Serving for the set two games later, Djokovic advanced to 40-30 but netted a forehand off an effective Dimitrov backhand slice. But then Djokoivic profited from a pair of errant backhand slices from his opponent, and the set belonged to the cagey favorite 6-4.

At 2-2 in the second set, Djokovic made a solid backhand return on break point that Dimitrov mistakenly thought he could control with a topspin backhand down the line reply. That shot landed long, and allowed Djokovic to move in front 3-2. He held at love for 4-2 with an ace out wide in the ad court and then had a break point for 5-2 that Dimitrov erased with a gutsy inside out forehand forcing an error.

The 32-year-old Bulgarian held on gamely in that seventh game, but Djokovic was unflustered. Serving at 4-3, 30-30, he released consecutive first serves down the T and Dimitrov could not get either one back in play. Djokovic moved to 5-3, and then determined that it was closing time, opening the ninth game with a scorching  backhand down the line winner. Dimitrov took the next two points but double faulted for 30-30. Now Djokovic went for the inside out backhand second serve return winner and made it. On match point at 30-40, he looped a forehand inside out and drew the error he wanted.

Djokovic had prevailed 6-4, 6-3. The 36-year-old connected with 67% of his first serves, winning 81% of those points. He won 11 of 16 second serve points (69%). He played the match on his terms, setting the tempo he wanted, keeping Dimitrov at bay from beginning to end, defeating his old rival and friend for the 12th time in 13 career meetings. The week had concluded almost the way it started, when Djokovic commenced his campaign for his seventh Rolex Masters Paris title with a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry in 84 efficient minutes.

But that appointment on Wednesday November 1 was followed by three rugged skirmishes that Djokovic had to navigate with the greatest of care just to survive.

The first of these battles was against the 27-year-old Tallon Griekspoor. In two previous duels with the Dutchman, Djokovic had triumphed without much trouble. But this time he drifted dangerously close to defeat against the world No. 21.

Djokovic surged to a 4-1 first set lead and then served at 4-2, 40-15. He challenged a call on the sideline, believing the ball had landed wide. It hit the line. Griekspoor broke back and had a new lease on life. He won five games in a row to steal the set, with Djokovic looking more and more listless with each passing moment. He called for the tournament doctor, who gave him a pill for his ailing stomach.

He remained almost zombie-like for a while, but gradually found a trace of intensity—if no more than that. At 4-4, Djokovic held on from 15-40 with some clutch serving. They travelled to a tie-break, and here Djokovic at last looked like the essential Djokovic, taking it seven points to two with regal authority.

And yet, the tension was not over. Although Griekspoor was not teeing off and lacing second serve returns with the same relish he had earlier, he still was fighting fiercely. Griekspoor made it back to 4-4 in that final set when Djokovic double faulted at break point down in the eighth game. The crowd cheered heartily after that point, with some perhaps wanting more tennis and others hoping for the Serbian’s demise. Djokovic egged them on by raising his arms defiantly while smiling almost ironically, knowing that he thrives so often when confronted by an acrimonious audience. Djokovic proceeded to run off eight consecutive points, completing a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 win and moving into the quarterfinals.

Waiting for Djokovic there was the young fellow who had upended him in the final a year ago on the same court. In fact, by virtue of that win in Paris one year ago, Holger Rune established himself as the only player ever to beat Djokovic from a set down in a Masters 1000 final. Djokovic has won 31 of 32 finals at that level over the course of his career after winning the opening set.

Moreover, Rune had toppled Djokovic again in another three set match on the clay at Rome earlier this year. They had not met since. Needless to say, but Djokovic does not take kindly to losing against anyone three times in a row. Another point of intrigue surrounding this quarterfinal confrontation: Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker was now in Rune’s corner.

Rune had endured a terrible slump this year after moving into the top five in the world and reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. He had back problems and went into a disconcerting tailspin that no one could have anticipated. Before he joined forces with Becker in Basel, Rune had lost eight of his last nine matches. His swagger was gone. He was not the same player we had witnessed over the past year.

But, with Becker by his side, Rune made it to the semifinals of Basel, and then played well on his way to the showdown with Djokovic in Paris. His creativity on the court, his willingness to get to the net commandingly, his bold second serve speeds— all of these qualities make Rune a compelling performer. Djokovic seemed to be feeling better than he had the day before against Griekspoor, but remained subdued.

Nonetheless, he was in good form, as was Rune. The first set was settled by one break in the twelfth game with Rune serving at 5-6. He reached game point for a potential tie-break but Djokovic persisted and reached set point. He came forward, punched a forehand volley low, and then put away a backhand swing volley from close range that landed on the line.

Djokovic sealed the crucial opening set 7-5. After an early exchange of breaks in the second, he then reached match point with Rune serving at 4-5. But the 20-year-old Dane audaciously sent an impeccably placed and unstoppable first serve down the T to save it. They went to a tie-break and improbably Djokovic was the player who faltered. For only the sixth time in 33 tie-breaks this year he was beaten, but it was more a case of self inflicted wounds from Djokovic (including a double fault at 1-3) than Rune’s shining play that allowed the Dane to prevail seven points to three.

At the end of that sequence, however, Rune was cramping. Djokovic took a bathroom break and when play resumed Rune was not unduly inhibited. But with some expert use of the lob and his customary court sense, Djokovic broke early in the third set and never looked back, serving beautifully to win 20 of 23 points on his delivery including five aces. In two hours and 54 minutes of hard fought and high quality tennis, Djokovic was victorious 7-5, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4.

His next assignment was a semifinal against Andrey Rublev. Djokovic had won four of their five previous confrontations including a come from behind four set victory in their most recent battle at Wimbledon.

Rublev has undoubtedly played the finest tennis of his career in 2023. He won the Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo over Rune and was runner-up to Hubert Hurkacz in the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament. His explosive backcourt game featuring one of the biggest forehands in the sport— along with a significantly improved backhand that he takes down the line more frequently— have made Rublev a more formidable player across the board

But the Rublev who showed up to play Djokovic indoors in Paris was combining power, purpose and reliability with a persuasiveness he has perhaps never exhibited before. It was breathtaking to observe the tennis he produced on this occasion. When Djokovic broke Rublev with some stunning running forehands in the opening game, it looked like business as usual for the world No. 1.

But the 36-year-old wasted four game points in the second game and an unbending Rublev broke right back. From that juncture, Rublev had the upper hand for most of the first set. By the middle of that set, Djokovic was clearly suffering to some degree with the stomach issue, looking wan and moving with much less alacrity than normal. With Rublev walloping his ground strokes ruthlessly and hardly missing despite unleashing one gargantuan shot after another, Djokovic was on his heels and fighting just to stay afloat.

At 3-4 in that first set, Djokovic held on from 0-40 with a stream of aces and service winners and at 4-5 the scenario was similar. In that tenth game he was down 0-30 but an ace got him back on track and he swept four points in a row to reach 5-5. Rublev was not perturbed. With Djokovic serving at 5-6, 30-30, Rublev’s return set up an outright winner and then Djokovic surprisingly tried a drop shot off Rublev’s return. It did not even reach the net. Set to Rublev, 7-5.

Once more, Djokovic found himself in a precarious place, down a set against a top five player who was playing arguably the match of his life. In the second game of the second set, Djokovic was down break point but he released a service winner down the T to bail himself out and advanced to 1-1. At 2-2, he had Rublev down 0-40 but the Russian held on with the help of a net cord winner at 30-40. He then saved another break point at 3-3 with a forehand inside out winner.

Twice in the latter stages of that hard fought set, Djokovic had to serve to stay in the match. He was three points from losing at 4-5, 15-15 but defended magnificently out of his forehand corner to reach 30-15, connected immaculately with a forehand inside in winner for 40-15, and aced Rublev out wide to hold for 5-5 at 15. Serving at 5-6 he was down 0-15 and three points from defeat again, but took four points in a row once more with immense poise under pressure.

Now they settled the second set in a tie-break. The players were locked at 2-2 when Djokovic went to work as only he can in these critical sequences. He coaxed an error from Rublev to get the mini-break for 3-2 and then defended with extraordinary determination as Rublev had him scurrying all over the court. Djokovic worked his way back to a neutral position and then employed a short and low backhand chip to draw Rublev in and make him miss.

It was 4-2 for an inspired Djokovic. A service winner down the T took him to 5-2. After an ace from Rublev made it 5-3, Djokovic took an excellent first serve wide from Rublev and rifled his return crosscourt for a dazzling winner. At 6-3, he closed that tie-break out with an ace out wide in the ad court. The 7-3 tie-break triumph was classic Djokovic.

And yet, he was hurting. On the first point of that tie-break, Djokovic had lunged to reach for a backhand return off a big serve from Rublev, aggravating his back. Djokovic took a bathroom break and then called for the trainer, who rubbed his back. Fortunately, he was able to pick up where he left off and keep elevating his game.

Nevertheless, Rublev was not wilting— not in the least. But he was under siege by an opponent who was no longer believing he could lose.

With Rublev serving at 1-2 in the third set, Djokovic had 15-40 and double break point but he netted a backhand crosscourt passing shot. Rublev held on with tenacity. Djokovic was creating scoreboard pressure on Rublev but also holding swiftly and confidently, winning 24 of 29 points on serve in that final set. Rublev later served at 4-5, 0-30, but missed only one first serve on the next four points and closed out that game with an ace for 5-5. Djokovic held at love for 6-5 with an ace and a perfectly packaged serve-and-volley point in that game, and now Rublev served for the second time to stay in the match.

This time, he did not succeed.

Djokovic was defending stupendously in this game. He outmaneuvered Rublev from the baseline twice to reach 0-30 before Rublev put away an overhead. But Djokovic was unrelenting now. A deep backhand down the line forced an error from Rublev to make it 15-40. Cruelly, Rublev double faulted long off the net cord going down the T on the next point and victory belonged to Djokovic 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 in just over three hours of spellbinding tennis. I put that match right up there among the top five men’s contests of the year. Outside of the majors, this was the best with the exception of Djokovic’s 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4) win over Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final.

Undoubtedly the week was almost all about Djokovic and his seventh title run at the Rolex Paris Masters. But not entirely.

Dimitrov deserves high marks for finishing his season with such an inspired run and rising again into the top 15 in the world. After he concluded 2017 at No. 3 in the world when he won the ATP Finals, he has fought in vain to stay in that territory while simultaneously setting high standards. But this year he has played his best tennis since 2017 and arguably his game is at an even higher level.

He toppled Alcaraz on his way to the semifinals of Shanghai, which in some ways set the stage for the Bulgarian’s excellent run in Paris. He started his journey in France with a three set win over Lorenzo Musetti. In the second round he avenged a hard fought loss he had suffered in Vienna against No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev. Aside from the Djokovic-Rublev contest, this was the most compelling match of the week. 

Dimitrov took the first set from Medvedev but dropped the second before gaining the upper hand again in the third. He served for the match at 5-3 and had four match points, but failed to get a first serve in on any of them. Later, at 5-6, Medvedev faced two more match points, managing to escape. But Dimitrov refused to lose his composure or abandon his game plan. He raced to a 5-0 final set tie-break lead and closed it out seven points to two for one of the most impressive victories of his career. Dimitrov won by scores of 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2).

In the round of 16, Dimitrov toppled Alexander Bublik 6-2, 6-2 before ousting Hurkacz 6-1,4-6, 6-4 as the Polish player lost his outside chance to qualify as one of the elite eight players for Turin. But Dimitrov was not done with his exploits.

He played a tremendous match against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals. The Greek stylist had won six of his seven career contests against Dimitrov, but this was a week when the Bulgarian was in a different mindset and not preoccupied with the past. Dimitrov completely outplayed Tsitsipas in the first set and then had two break points at 4-4 in the second. But Tsitsipas knifed a forehand volley into the clear and saved the other with a penetrating forehand off a net cord return from an unlucky Dimitrov.

Tsitsipas was too good in winning the second set in a tie-break and then had four break points at 1-1 in the third— the only ones he would create all match long. Dimitrov held on steadfastly. That final set also went to a tie-break and in this one Dimitrov was out of this world. He produced four winners in that sequence including three sparkling passing shots, and took the match by the same scoreline as his Medvedev encounter: 6-3, 6-7 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3). Dimitrov was outclassed by a better player in the final, but the fact remained that he had ended his year in style. The last time he had been in a Masters 1000 final was six years ago in Cincinnati when he took the title over Nick Kyrgios.

Now the stage is set for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, which starts on November 12. The defending champion Djokovic will be the clear favorite as he chases a seventh crown in that season ending tournament for the top eight players. Carlos Alcaraz— beaten in the second round of Paris by the Russian Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-4 after being up a break in both sets—will be trying to break out of a slump after dealing with two injury issues recently. He has not won a tournament since his stirring five set, final round clash with Djokovic at Wimbledon.

The two other main contenders will be world No. 3 Medvedev—the 2020 champion—and world No. 4 Jannik Sinner, who is coming off his greatest season yet and looking forward to performing commendably for his home country’s fans. Rounding out the field are Rublev,  2019 champion Tsitsipas, 2018 and 2021 champion Sascha Zverev, and Rune.

It is an excellent cast with some enticing matchups. Djokovic is, of course, the man to beat. But based on recent form I must give Sinner the next best chance. Medvedev has not won a tournament since Rome. Neither he nor Alcaraz will be that confident going into the tournament, although that could change during the week. But Djokovic is riding high after another significant tournament win, and Sinner will be confident after stopping Medvedev in two finals this autumn at Beijing and Vienna. Although he dropped out of the Rolex Paris Masters after winning his opening match over Mackenzie McDonald at the ungodly hour of 2:37 AM, Sinner will be rested for Turin and should be ready to go.

Djokovic will have a week to recover from the rigors of Paris, and some of the pressure on him to defend will be removed. With a 1490 point lead over Alcaraz in the ATP Race. Djokovic has almost a lock on an eighth year-end No. 1 ranking, so he should be able to keep his mind on the task at hand in Turin and, with an uncluttered mind, give himself the best possible chance to succeed in Italy. I can’t wait for this year end festival to unfold.

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.

After 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.

And 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.

As 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).

Djokovic 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.

As we reflect on Novak Djokovic securing a fourth U.S. Open crown and a 24th major in the process, it is too easily overlooked by even the most erudite of tennis observers that this tournament has frequently been filled with misfortune for the Serbian gladiator. 

This was the tenth time Djokovic had been to the finals in New York, but on six occasions he had been toppled on those auspicious occasions. He lost to a prime time Roger Federer in a straight set 2007 final (7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4) despite having five set points in the opening set and two more in the second. Rafa Nadal upended Djokovic in a four set 2010 title round meeting, and two years later Andy Murray defeated the Serbian in a five set final.

The pattern persisted. Nadal overcame Djokovic in a four set final in 2013. When that encounter was locked at one set all, the Spaniard served his way out of a dark corner at 4-4, 0-40. Another penetrating setback for Djokovic was in 2016 when he fell in four sets against Stan Wawrinka despite taking the opening set. And then, of course, Djokovic suffered his most painful final round loss at the Open two years ago when his bid for the Grand Slam was denied by Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

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Of those six final round defeats, Djokovic could well have won two or three. Meanwhile, he was the prohibitive favorite in 2020 when he inadvertently hit a lines woman with a ball late in the first set of his round of 16 appointment against Pablo Carreno Busta and was disqualified. Last, but not least, he could not compete at the 2022 U.S. Open because he is unvaccinated.

In my mind, Djokovic—inarguably at his best on hard courts—is worthy of several more Open titles in his collection. He had his breakthrough triumph in New York at the 2011 edition when he rescued himself from double match point down in the semifinals against Roger Federer before ousting Nadal in a hard fought, four set final. He took his second title four years later in four sets over Federer on an evening when the audience was vociferously cheering the Swiss stylist’s every move and often loudly applauding Djokovic’s mistakes. His third triumphant campaign came five years ago when Djokovic fended off the extraordinary firepower of Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 in a 2018 title round contest that resembled this year’s final in some ways.

But perhaps his latest victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium will mean the most to Djokovic. He wanted this tournament very badly. His parents, wife and two children were there to cheer him on. On top of those emotional factors, Djokovic had lost narrowly to Carlos Alcaraz in a five set Wimbledon final, and was therefore doubly determined not to lose consecutive major finals after all of the hard work he had put in across the season.

As the tournament progressed, Djokovic surely believed deep in his heart that he was destined to take on Alcaraz again. In the last three times they had been at a tournament together, the Serbian and Spaniard had indeed clashed, with Djokovic victorious in the semifinals at Roland Garros, Alcaraz the victor at Wimbledon and Djokovic then winning a stupendous skirmish in the final of Cincinnati.

But Alcaraz was ushered out of the Open by an inspired Medvedev in a sparkling Saturday night semifinal encounter, and so the final pitted Djokovic versus Medvedev. This was their third final at a Grand Slam event. Before Medvedev had beaten Djokovic in the 2021 Open final, the Serbian had taken apart the Russian 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the Australian Open final at the start of that season.

Altogether, Djokovic owned a 9-5 career head to head lead over Medvedev coming into the Open final, including triumphs in three of their last four meetings, most notably at Turin last fall in the ATP Finals in a round robin skirmish. Djokovic had already qualified for the semifinals and that match was supposedly meaningless. But he approached it like a final and pushed himself to his physical and emotional limits. Medvedev served for the match in the final set before Djokovic succeeded in a final set tie-break. He explained later that the reason why he was so driven to win that match was his high regard for Medvedev as one of his most important and resilient rivals.

This time around at the U.S. Open, Djokovic was composed, purposeful and quietly confident from the outset. He recognized as he always does how crucial it is to get off to a good start and take the opening set. Over the course of his sterling career, Djokovic has the best record of any male player in the Open Era after winning the first set at 935-41 (.958). There has been no better front runner in the sport.

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As is his custom, Djokovic came out of the blocks unhesitatingly against Medvedev, releasing a pair of aces from 30-30 in the opening game of the final, then breaking his 6’6” adversary at love in the second game as the No. 3 seed put in only one first serve. Medvedev double faulted once wildly and made three unprovoked mistakes in that game. Djokovic trailed 0-30 in the third game but swept four points in a row for 3-0, closing out that third game with another ace at 120 MPH down the T.

The No. 2 seed had the cushion he wanted. He did not break Medvedev again in that set but played the most significant points well on his own delivery. At 3-1 and deuce, he approached beautifully deep to the backhand and put away a forehand volley crosscourt, moving to 4-1 with an angled forehand crosscourt that was too much to handle. On his way to 5-2, he released a couple of winners including a pinpoint forehand inside in on game point. After Medvedev survived a three deuce game and saved two set points at 2-5, Djokovic held easily at 15 to seal the set 6-3 in 48 efficient minutes.

Over the first half of the second set, Djokovic was constantly making Medvedev work hard to hold serve. The 27-year-old held on after three deuces for 1-0, endured another deuce game before moving to 2-1, and held from 15-30 to reach 3-2. Djokovic, meanwhile, was holding much more comfortably. On his way to 3-3 he served three love games in a row. In the seventh game, Djokovic advanced to break point but Medvedev connected with a 124 MPH first serve that created an opening for a forehand swing volley winner. After four deuces and countless sparkling points, Medvedev worked his way out of danger to 4-3 with a 121 MPH ace out wide in the ad court.

Now Djokovic was starting to lose steam physically and feeling the strain mentally, realizing that the outcome of this set was critical. He led 40-15 in the eighth game but double faulted and then lost the next point. At game point for the third time he double faulted again. He had a fourth game point but missed an easy forehand. Medvedev garnered a first break point but Djokovic spectacularly made a forehand half volley drop shot winner to save himself. Djokovic held on after four deuces and more than twelve minutes, making a low forehand volley crosscourt that provoked a netted passing shot from Medvedev. 

It was 4-4. Many among the capacity crowd in Ashe Stadium were chanting “Nole, Nole, Nole” to spur him on, but Medvedev was unswayed, holding at love for 5-4 before Djokovic made it to 5-5 with a clutch hold. The Serbian reached deuce in the following game on Medvedev’s serve by prevailing in an astounding 26 shot exchange, bringing the crowd to their feet with a forehand passing shot winner off an awkward smash form Medvedev. Medvedev, however, stayed completely on task, holding on with a service winner and a surprising error off the backhand from Djokovic.

Djokovic was now seriously fatigued. At 5-6, he double faulted at 40-30. A scintillating and unanswerable backhand down the line into the corner then gave Medvedev a set point. Djokovic went to the serve-and-volley that he employed so selectively well all match long, going down the T with his first delivery at 117 MPH, angling the backhand first volley crosscourt. Medvedev had an opening for a down the line pass but went crosscourt. Djokovic anticipated that shot and punched a backhand volley winner into a wide open space down the line. As he walked back to the baseline to play the next point, Djokovic grinned, realizing he had been fortunate. Eventually, after four deuces, a debilitated Djokovic went to 6-6 with a 121 MPH service winner down the T.

A marathon set that would last for one hour and 44 minutes was nearing an end as both players fully realized what was at stake. Medvedev would have a new life by winning it and reaching one set all, while Djokovic knew that he could be unstoppable by coming through in the tie-break to move ahead two sets to love.

Medvedev opened up a 3-1 lead but Djokovic swept three points in succession to lead 4-3 and sensed an opportunity for a forehand winner down the line on the next point, but drove it long. 4-4. The following point was 23 strokes. Djokovic defended stupendously but then took charge of the rally. He tried an angled backhand drop shot that Medvedev answered with a re-drop. Djokovic was trapped. 5-4 for Medvedev. Djokovic took control of the next rally commendably. The last six shots he played were all crosscourt backhands that he leaned into with conviction, increasing the pace of his shots and the angle each time until he forced Medvedev to miss. 5-5.  Djokovic then followed his first serve in on the eleventh point and his wide delivery in the deuce court landed in the corner. Medvedev missed his down the line forehand return both long and wide.

Medvedev was set point down at 5-6, and he was not going to escape. The big man netted a backhand down the line. After so many pulsating points, Medvedev understandably cracked against the game’s premier tie-break player, losing a hard fought tie-break seven points to five. Djokovic lifted his record for the year in those sequences to 26-5. The match was essentially over. Both players sorely wanted that set, but Medvedev needed it even more than Djokovic. The match was essentially over.

Djokovic made his move early in the third set, breaking a beleaguered Medvedev at 15 for 3-1 on a stream of errors. But Djokovic made only one first serve in the following game, double faulted once and was broken at 15 as well. It would be the only time in the match that he lost his serve, but he made amends immediately. Medvedev was serving at 30-0 in the sixth game but Djokovic caught him off guard with a deep forehand return. Medvedev double faulted to make it 30-30 and then Djokovic concluded a 16 stroke exchange with an immaculately measured backhand down the line winner. Djokovic directed a backhand crosscourt return at 30-40 to lure Medvedev into a backhand down the line error. Four points in a row for Djokovic. He was back up a break at 4-2.

He commenced the seventh game with a dazzling serve-volley combination, angling away the backhand first volley acutely for 15-0, lacing a forehand inside in winner for 30-0, putting away an overhead for 40-0, and going to his trusted sliced backhand to coax an error from Medvedev. With that love hold Djokovic got to 5-2. Medvedev pridefully held from 0-30 in the eighth game after losing ten points in a row, but Djokovic wrapped up the victory with a hold at 30. The triumph belonged to Djokovic 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3. At long last, five years after claiming his last Open title, Djokovic had at last captured a fourth crown in New York as he appeared in a record tenth final.

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It was a strategically savvy performance from Djokovic, reminiscent in many ways of his final round win over Medvedev in the final of the Rolex Paris Masters 1000 event. It was Djokovic’s willingness and readiness to come forward that separated him from Medvedev. He won 20 of 22 serve-and-volley points, and altogether 37 of 44 points when he went to the net. Medvedev never served-and-volleyed and won 16 of 22 points at the net, coming in only half as often as Djokovic.

Djokovic did a remarkably good job of swinging his slice serve wide in that deuce court to expose Medvedev’s court positioning that was too far behind the baseline. Sometimes Djokovic forced Medvedev into errant forehand returns and in other cases he set up volleys that were relatively simple. When Djokovic did have to play a difficult low volley, he was not found wanting. Arguably he has never volleyed better. He knew precisely what he wanted to do tactically and technically in the final with Medvedev and was rewarded in the end for his flexibility, foundational stability and sound execution.

In the semifinals, Djokovic cut down the fast charging, left-handed, 20-year-old Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Shelton had announced himself to the tennis world at large in Australia at the start of the season, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before losing to countryman Tommy Paul in a four set contest.

After his stirring run in Melbourne, Shelton lost 19 of his next 28 matches— and that includes one Challenger tournament along with all of his ATP Tour appearances. But Shelton was clearly inspired in New York and this time he knocked out both No. 14 seed Tommy Paul and No. 10 Frances Tiafoe. Those triumphs earned him a penultimate round duel with Djokovic.

The No. 2 seed started picking apart the explosive Shelton early on. Shelton had released a pair of 149 MPH thunderbolts against Paul, and he can serve as big as anyone in the game. But he felt against Djokovic that he had to mix it up. He did just that, changing speeds and spins intelligently, trying to not allow the Serbian to know what was coming next.

The strategy failed. From the outset of this semifinal, Djokovic was uncannily prepared for almost every first and second serve that came his way. His returns were often breathtaking, no matter how big the serve, regardless of where they were directed. Djokovic was ready for any kind of serve that came his way. He raced to a 5-2 first set lead and had Shelton down 0-40 in the eighth game. Shelton escaped, saving four set points, holding on with a 140 MPH service winner. Djokovic was down break point in the following game but held on to close out the set 6-3. The eventual champion thoroughly took over in the second set, winning 16 of 23 points on serve, breaking twice, setting the tempo from the backcourt.

When Djokovic took a 4-2 third set lead, he seemed to be cruising to victory. But Shelton found his range off the backhand and lifted his game considerably overall. He broke Djokovic for 4-4, held, and then had a set point with the Serbian serving at 4-5. Djokovic wiped it away emphatically with a 124 MPH service winner. He held on, broke again for 6-5, and had a match point in the twelfth game. But he missed with a forehand down the line wide and two points later netted an overhead. 

Shelton improbably had broken serve for 6-6. Djokovic settled into his usual tie-break mode and took a 5-1 lead. Urged on vociferously by the crowd, Shelton collected three points in a row, but Djokovic was imperturbable. He made it to 6-4 with a neatly executed backhand volley and then took the next point by going to the Shelton forehand and coaxing an error. Djokovic prevailed 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4).

After that afternoon clash, Medvedev and Alcaraz collided in the evening. The Spaniard had crushed Medvedev twice earlier this season, first in the final of Indian Wells on hard courts, and then in the semifinals of Wimbledon on the grass. The Russian looked so befuddled in those confrontations that it was hard to envision him making inroads against the Spaniard on the hard courts at the Open.

But that is exactly what he did—and so much more. Medvedev was struggling considerably in his first two service games. On his way to 1-1 he served three double faults and was stretched to deuce four times before barely holding on. He was down 15-40 in the fourth game but moved past his difficulties to 2-2. Over his next four service games, Medvedev improved substantially, winning 16 of 20 points. Alcaraz dropped only seven points in his six opening set service games.

They settled the outcome of that set in a tie-break. Medvedev took a mini-break lead at 3-2, but double faulted on the next point. But then Alcaraz netted a drop shot, missed a forehand volley that he would often make, and drove a forehand down the line needlessly into the net. Serving at 6-3, Medvedev hit a forehand winner down the line off a short return. He had swept four points in a row to win the set.

Alcaraz was rattled. He was disconcerted about his play in the tie-break. The loss of that set in such a careless way lingered in the mind of the 20-year-old Wimbledon champion. Medvedev served magnificently in the second set and won 16 of 18 points on his delivery but Alcaraz did not keep up his end of the competitive bargain, losing his serve twice, dropping the set 6-1, performing abysmally when judged by his normally high standards.

And yet, Alcaraz finally broke Medvedev for 3-1 in the fourth as the Russian volleyed tamely on the last two points. Alcaraz made that one break count and took the third set 6-3. He was revving up the crowd and raising his own spirits in the process. At 1-1 in the fourth set, Medvedev dealt with a dangerous moment forthrightly, saving three break points after falling behind 15-40, crucially holding on.

That was one turning point. The next was when Alcaraz served at 2-3. In a seven deuce game which he led 40-15, Alcaraz was broken despite having seven game points at a persistent Medvedev exploited too many serve-and-volley points from the Spaniard. Medvedev was anticipating that tactic and started making low returns that were tough to handle. Alcaraz did not locate his serve nearly as well as Djokovic did in the final.

Alcaraz’s numbers for the match when attacking were reasonably good. He won 54 of 70 net points altogether and succeeded on 31 of 42 serve-and-volley attempts. But he got burned on some big points in the fourth set by being too predictable.

Medvedev served his way to a love hold to reach 5-2 in the fourth, closing out that seventh game with an ace out wide. But, serving for the match two games later, he rushed and put himself in a precarious position. He came from 15-40 down to reach match point but double faulted on the next two points. Down break point for the third time, he was very lucky when his short forehand landed on the sideline and Alcaraz mismanaged it, sending a backhand down the line long. Medvedev needed four match points but he got himself across the finish line despite some unnecessary tension, celebrating his biggest match victory of the season by upending Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

In fact, Medvedev played well the entire tournament. He dropped one set to the Australian Chris O’Connell in the second round and then had to come from behind in the fourth round to defeat Alex De Minaur 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. That was a noteworthy victory because the Australian had beaten Medvedev the last two times they played. In the quarterfinals, Medvedev handled his countryman and No. 8 seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals despite trailing 3-0 in the first set, 3-1 in the second and 4-2 in the third. That match was played in Arthur Ashe Stadium on an oppressive afternoon. At one point Medvedev understandably complained, “Someone is going to die out here.” 

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That’s why it was such a good thing for the players and the fans that the final rounds were played under the roof. The air conditioning made a big difference for the players who had been toweling themselves off between points incessantly.

As for Djokovic and his pathway through the tournament, he won six of his seven matches in straight sets. But he did have an ordeal of sorts when he played countryman Laslo Djere in the third round at night. The No. 32 seed was hardly missing a ball while taking a two set lead. He had more patience than Djokovic and was exploiting every opportunity he had. Djokovic missed chances in the early games of this match. He had 40-30 on serve in the first game but was broken. Then he squandered break points in Djere’s first two service games. Before he knew it, that set was gone. Djere hardly put a foot out of line for two sets.

But Djokovic took a bathroom break after that second set, returned to the court revitalized, and swept through the third set swiftly. He eventually was victorious 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. It was a draining battle which was tougher than the score indicates. Djokovic even faced a break point in the last game of the match. But he managed to come back from two sets to love down for the eighth time in his career, and lifted his career record in five set matches to 38-11.

In any event, some space must be reserved for the best match of the tournament. That was No. 12 seed Sascha Zverev’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over No. 6 seed Jannik Sinner in the fourth round. Sinner was cramping by the third set but battled on courageously, and Zverev looked spent in the fourth set. Be that as it may, Zverev never lost his serve in a magnificently played fifth set to secure the win. He lost in straight sets to Alcaraz but the German competitor is well on his way back to the top of his game. By reaching the quarters in New York, Zverev returned to the top ten in the world, which is where he surely belongs.

Meanwhile, Djokovic is back where he belongs at No. 1 in the world for the 390th week in his career. He stands a decent chance of concluding 2023 at the top. If he manages to realize that extraordinary feat, it would be the eighth time he has finished a season at No. 1. Pete Sampras ended six years (in a row) at the top while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it five times.

Djokovic has now appeared in 72 career Grand Slam tournaments, winning a third (24) of them. He has been to the final in half of those championships (36). He now is the only man ever to win three majors in four different years (2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023). He has been victorious in seven of the last ten majors he has played since the start of 2021. He has also won 12 of his 24 majors during his thirties, and has secured 96 tournaments titles altogether. He is the oldest man ever to win the U.S. Open, taking that distinction away from the evergreen Ken Rosewall, who was the champion at Forest Hills in 1970 at 35.

Despite his multitude of successes, the 36-year-old Djokovic somehow remains eager to accomplish more in the coming year and beyond. The guess here is that he 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 definitively 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.

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