For most people, the discussion about who is the GOAT in men’s tennis is done and dusted. Novak Djokovicit’s won Daniel Medvedev at the US Open on Sunday evening means he now has two leads over Rafael Nadal (and four in front Roger Federer) with 24 slams to his credit.
He is now tied with Margaret Court on 24th and since he can only really be judged against his peers, Djokovic has the numbers sealed.
But what about an even broader pub debate? could he be the greatest sportsman of all time? Of course, it is absolutely impossible for everyone to ever agree on such a subject and comparing different athletes, from different eras, is almost pointless.
But that didn’t stop the question from being asked of Djokovic when he spoke to Serbian media at the end of his media duties following his US Open triumph. Could he be the best of all time, in any sport?
“I’ll let you guys and everyone else decide if I deserve to be part of this debate,” Djokovic said. “But one thing is certain: if I was not from Serbia, I would have been glorified at the sporting level many years ago, especially in the west.
“But this is part of my journey, I am grateful and proud to come from Serbia – thanks to this, all these achievements are sweeter and even more fulfilling.”
Crucial context for Djokovic’s success
In his on-court speech, Djokovic repeated something he had said many times in the past, emphasizing his education and being a professional sportsman, not to mention someone who would win 24 Grand Slams and be ranked No. 1 in the world longer than anyone else. , was an incredible, almost impossible dream come true.
And speaking to international media at his general press conference, Djokovic explained why his journey was so important to him and why his childhood goals, to win Wimbledon and become number one, were so far-fetched that he was even more remarkable that he was able to reach them. them.
“I mean, it was already, you know, an incredibly high ambition for someone coming from a family with no tennis tradition, for a boy in Serbia under sanctions and an embargo, a war-torn country, and being part of a very expensive and unaffordable sport, inaccessible sport,” he said.
Djokovic: “It was extremely difficult, with a lot of adversity”
“The odds were against me and my family, but, you know, we did it. I say “we” because I owe a lot to my family, to my parents who sacrificed so much for me to be here. And it’s not a clichĂ©. I really think so. It was extremely, extremely difficult, with a lot of adversity that they had to face and atrocities that, when you think about it, you know, the last thing you want to think about is maybe supporting your child in a expensive sport.
“At that point, it was more about getting the bread to the kitchen table. Reflecting on the entire journey, it has been an incredible, incredible adventure that we can all be very proud of. This kind of upbringing, really, and the experiences I had growing up really allow me to appreciate this moment or any other moment that I have experienced, of the great moments of my career in the history of this sport .
