Author: Barkha Roy
Roger Federer praised Novak Djokovic’s incredible achievement in winning his 23rd Grand Slam title, describing it as “unbelievable”. However, Federer did not go so far as to declare Djokovic the best player of all time. Speaking at the grass tournament in Halle, Federer acknowledged the challenge of determining the best player in history, considering the various difficulties faced by players at different stages of their careers.
Djokovic’s recent triumph at the French Open marked his third Roland Garros title, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s 22 major championships. Federer, who retired with 20 Grand Slam titles, expressed his admiration for Djokovic’s achievements, but hesitated to award the greatest title of all time.
Addressing the difficulty of the question, Federer said: “It’s difficult to answer all these questions. I asked a friend: what’s harder, winning Wimbledon at 17, like Boris Becker, or the French Open at 36, like Novak? I don’t know“. He acknowledged the exciting era for tennis fans and players, appreciating the incredible achievements of his rivals.
The rivalry between the “big three” of men’s tennis, made up of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, has been dominated by the race for Grand Slam titles in recent years. Federer was the first to reach 20 Grand Slam titles, followed by Nadal. However, Djokovic’s remarkable rise from 12 titles in 2018 to a record 23 in 2023 has reshaped the conversation.
Djokovic’s ability to win 11 Grand Slam titles by the age of 30, the most by a male player in this age group, highlights his exceptional consistency and longevity. While his younger competitors are struggling physically, Djokovic continues to reign at the top of men’s tennis. Federer acknowledged Djokovic’s monumental achievement, but warned against ending the debate on the greatest of all time prematurely.
Federer emphasized: “Although Djokovic’s achievements are absolutely huge and may be enough, as long as Rafa is still playing too, it’s not yet possible to answer that definitively.“With Nadal’s enduring resilience and remarkable record, the discussion around the title of best player in the world remains uncertain.
At 36, Djokovic is preparing to dominate Wimbledon and has the opportunity to equal Federer’s record of eight titles at the prestigious tournament. Djokovic’s statistical trajectory suggests that he is likely to outperform his rivals in several important categories. However, the subjective nature of the definition of greatness ensures that the GOAT debate will persist in the tennis world.