Novak Djokovic revived the argument over who is the best men’s tennis player of all time by matching Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam victories.
For some, the Serb’s record-setting 10th Australian Open championship was the final word.
Upon losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), Stefanos Tsitsipas proclaimed, “He is without a doubt the greatest tennis player in history.”
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Djokovic, who reclaimed to world number one with a commanding victory in Sunday’s final, seemed destined to win additional Grand Slams.
Except for early hamstring issues in Melbourne, he is a year younger than Nadal and appears to be in superb physical condition.
In contrast, Nadal’s shattered body failed again at the Australian Open, as he exited in the second round with a loss and a hip injury. His championship defense was done, and the Spaniard was in misery.
Roger Federer, the third member of the “Big Three” players who have dominated men’s tennis for the past 15 years, retired with 20 Grand Slam championships last year.
Federer will always remain the “people’s champion” in the eyes of many due to his graceful play, but Djokovic appears poised to break the record for the most men’s major titles.
In Australia two years ago, he won despite tearing stomach muscles; this year, a hamstring injury prevented him from practicing between matches.
If not for Djokovic’s vaccination status, which led to his deportation from Australia a year ago and prevented him from competing at the US Open, he may already have 23 or 24 Grand Slam victories.
“Haha, I told you. We made a monster… On my couch, I watched the entire program. Nick Kyrgios, who was defeated by Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final, tweeted on Sunday, “Take it all in.”
Nadal, at age 36, may be able to recover from his most recent injury and perhaps find the motivation to win Roland Garros in May.
However, he is a new father, and as family and friends beg for him to stop abusing his body, he may decide to retire sooner rather than later.
There is a possibility that he will retire at this year’s French Open.
It is his favorite event, and a fifteenth victory there would be a fairytale conclusion.
Djokovic appears to be improving with age, and the “Next Generation” of youthful talent cannot compete with him across five sets.
His coach, Goran Ivanisevic, anticipates a few more years at the top and further Grand Slam titles.
“Two or three more years,” Ivanisevic told reporters after Sunday’s championship match.
“It’s incredible how he takes care of his physique, how he treats everything, and how he eats. It’s incredible how high the level is.”
Regardless of the number of Grand Slam victories, some tennis fans will never be convinced that Djokovic is the greatest player ever.
He divides opinion, whereas Federer and Nadal are widely adored for their on-court and off-court behavior.
Some consider Djokovic’s serious, gloomy demeanor to be excessively calculated.
A year ago, it was his Covid immunization. This year, his father Srdjan posed with a fan holding a Russian flag with Vladimir Putin’s portrait on it.
Critics asserted that Djokovic’s character was exposed by his infamous default from the US Open in 2020 for snatching a ball that hit a female line judge.
But Djokovic’s followers claim that same characteristics are what propelled him to success.
This year, Djokovic was visibly affected by the controversies and spoke openly about them, whereas previously he may have avoided answering questions.
It “hurts him and me,” he stated after deciding that his father would not watch him win the Australian Open from courtside.
It was one of the reasons why an emotional Djokovic dubbed his triumph on Sunday “the greatest of my life.”
The Grand Slam statistics are accurate. But achieving “greatest” status from all tennis fans may be an even greater accomplishment.
»Opinion: Which is the best? Novak Djokovic may have ended the discussion«