After his incredible US Open victory, Novak Djokovic made a surprising revelation when asked about his opinion on the greatest sportsperson of all time.
With his fourth US Open win, Djokovic now shares the record for the most Grand Slam titles with Margaret Court at 24. On the men's side, he has pulled two ahead of his rival Rafael Nadal and has four more titles than the retired legend Roger Federer.
In terms of statistics, Djokovic undeniably stands as the greatest tennis player in history, with his extraordinary achievements and seemingly limitless energy. At 36 years old, he continues to defy biology and it appears that his best years are still ahead of him.
His coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has spoken about Djokovic's long-term ambitions, revealing that his sights are set on a mind-boggling sixth appearance at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. Ivanisevic emphasized that Djokovic is fueled by challenges and has not set a specific number of titles he aims to win.
During a press conference with the Serbian media following his US Open victory, the topic of the "Greatest of All Time" (GOAT) took on a different tone. Journalists questioned Djokovic about whether he now considers himself the best in all sports. However, he refrained from giving a definitive answer.
"I leave that debate to all of you and everyone else to determine whether I deserve to be a part of it. However, one thing is certain – if I wasn't from Serbia, I would have been celebrated on a sporting level many years ago, especially in the West."
"But this is part of my journey, and I am grateful and proud to come from Serbia. Because of my background, all of these accomplishments feel even sweeter and more fulfilling."
Djokovic speaks passionately about his upbringing and the challenges he faced. Growing up in a family with no tennis background, his dream of winning Wimbledon and becoming the World No. 1 seemed like something out of a fictional story.
The fact that Djokovic was able to overcome these odds is what makes his success even more meaningful. He appreciates the difficult path he has traveled to reach this point.
"To come from a family with no tennis tradition, to be a boy in Serbia during times of sanctions, embargoes, and a war-torn country, and to be a part of such an expensive and inaccessible sport - that was an incredibly high ambition. And yet, it has allowed me to truly appreciate this moment and all the other significant moments in my career, in the history of this sport."
