Tennis legend John McEnroe has declared that Novak Djokovic’s recent Olympic gold medal triumph has firmly established him as the greatest of all time, distancing him from his long-standing rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic’s victory at the Paris Olympics, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz to secure the gold, marks a significant milestone in his illustrious career, further cementing his legacy in the sport.
Djokovic’s Olympic success is not merely another achievement in his already decorated career but a historic one. With this victory, he became only the second player in the Open Era, after Andre Agassi, to have won all four Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and the ATP Tour Finals. Additionally, at 37, Djokovic made history as the oldest player to win a gold medal in either the men’s or women’s singles events since tennis was reinstated as an Olympic sport in 1988.
As Djokovic prepares for the US Open, where he will aim to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, McEnroe believes the Serbian has already assumed the status of the greatest of all time. “He’s looking to sort of separate himself from Federer and Nadal, that’s really what it boils down to,” McEnroe stated. “He seems to have already done that in a way. He’s won the Olympics, won everything, won more than those guys.”
Djokovic’s career has been marked by numerous records and achievements, including his three US Open titles. His last Grand Slam victory came at the 2023 US Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev. That victory not only secured his 24th Grand Slam title but also moved him two ahead of Nadal, solidifying his position as the player with the most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis, and four clear of the retired Federer.
McEnroe, who recently joined Djokovic in a practice match alongside Alcaraz and Agassi, emphasized that Djokovic’s latest triumph has set him apart from his peers. “To me, you’d have to ask him, but it [more success] is gravy. He sort of put himself there already,” McEnroe concluded.
As Djokovic continues to compete at the highest level, his recent achievements only add to his remarkable career, one that may see him further extend his dominance in the sport.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Ranked no.2, Djokovic played his last match on the 4th of August when he overcame world no.3 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(3) 7-6(2) in the final in Paris to win his 99th career title.
During this season Novak has managed to achieve an overall 29-7 win-loss record. Djokovic clinched 1 title in Paris. Novak was the finalist in Wimbledon.
Novak clinched 1 title in 2024 in Paris. The Serbian was the runner-up in Wimbledon.
Novak won 100 titles in his career: 53 on hard courts, 20 on clay courts, 19 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 30th of September and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 28th of October.
Novak Djokovic |
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