Jun 19, 2023

Does it matter if Djokovic is the GOAT or not? It’s a subjective exercise regardless of the stats

Novak Djokovic. Two phrases that divide the tennis world and the wider sporting landscape just like the Carpathian Mountains divide southern Serbia from Romania. People love him or detest him, that is why the opposite word that genuinely must be his moniker in the tennis international – “superb” – sits uneasily for some.

For a recreation that, till currently, changed into continually the keep of the elite, united states of America membership set, the likes of Djokovic – who emerged from war-torn Serbia and became forged through warfare into a hard-assed winner – offered uncomfortable feelings.

The urbane Roger Federer along with his mild contact and potential to make tennis appear to be art, is easy to love. And Rafa Nadal, along with his brooding depth and power, however additionally his emotional intelligence, makes him a crowd preferred.

Djokovic no longer best needed to prove himself as a superb tennis participant towards the opposite two all-time greats, which is no suggest feat in itself, however, additionally had to live up to the ones two as a carrying icon in a very narrowly described manner.

To some, he’s done that and more. To others, Djokovic has failed as a position model. He’s almost truly now not losing sleep over it.

World domination

The courts of the arena had been dominated by the aid of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic for two decades. They’ve driven every other to greater heights, among them winning 65 of the closing seventy-eight Grand Slam singles titles given that 2003.

Djokovic has 23, Nadal is 22, and Federer, now retired, will forever be 20. Djokovic has received eleven of his Grand Slams for the reason that turning 30.

The Serb is a constant winner, fiercely aggressive, hugely talented, maniacally pushed, and deeply intelligent. It’s an aggregate that enthralls, upsets, and scares human beings in identical measure. He can't be put well in a box marked, “tennis participant”.

This week is Djokovic’s 388th at No 1 inside the international. Federer is the subsequent closest with 310 weeks in the game’s pinnacle spot. Nadal has spent 209 weeks at the legit summit.

Outside the 4 Grand Slams, the nine Masters 1000 tournaments and the season-finishing ATP Finals are considered a rung underneath in phrases of status.

Djokovic and Federer have received six ATP Finals every — Nadal has by no means won that match.

Djokovic has received every of the 4 Grand Slams at least three instances, whilst Nadal has gained all of them a minimum of two times. Federer handiest captured one French Open, so even though he has a career Grand Slam, he can’t match the alternative.

Djokovic leads the p.C. With 38 Masters a thousand titles to Nadal’s 36 and Federer’s 28. And in relation to winning possibilities, Djokovic has a career-winning ratio of eighty-three. 4%. Nadal is eighty-two. 8% and Federer retired with a winning file of 81.2%.

Federer is 2nd handiest to Jimmy Connors in phrases of usual titles (103 to Connors’ 109) and the number of professional matches received (1,251 to Connors’ 1,274). Djokovic has won ninety-four titles in total and 1,058 suits, so he has some manner to visit fit Federer and Connors on the one's ratings.

GOAT race

Djokovic, for the higher part of the past decade, has been vying with Nadal and Federer for the unofficial name of greatest of all time (GOAT) and has, via those objective measurements, won that fight.

His 23rd guys’ Grand Slam singles name, won at the French Open at Roland Garros remaining week, took him clear in that ranking too.

But does it virtually rely on if he is the GOAT? Because irrespective of what he achieves, mainly by loyalists to his two principal opponents, it gained’t is counted.

Many have made up their minds approximately Djokovic, just as they have approximately Federer and Nadal. And none people without a doubt know them. All we recognize is what we see in public for the maximum element and Djokovic, at least, seems to be authentic.

He doesn’t do politically correct and isn’t afraid to explicit his right to decide approximately his health. If that means no longer being vaccinated against Covid and forfeiting tennis titles, so be it.

He by no means publicly recommended in opposition to Covid vaccinations for the overall population, however, he refused to get them himself. It might be inaccurate and we would disagree, however, you have to respect his decision. It got here with results – missing the 2021 US Open and the 2022 Australian Open, as well as a large social media pile-on. He took it on the chin.

As a proud Serb, he every so often expresses political feelings that don’t sit down comfortably, inclusive of assisting the Serbian view that Kosovo isn't an unbiased nation. Again, he might be incorrect or he might not, however, he's taking the criticism and in some way becomes a better competitor.

He tried to host a mini-tour in the Balkans at some point during the most harsh of Covid lockdowns and installed a rival players’ corporation which break up the players on tour. He changed into additionally disqualified from the 2020 US Open whilst a ball he struck in anger hit a line choose.

The different side of Djokovic is that of a driven person. He speaks 5 languages — Serbian, English, French, Spanish, and Italian — and is running on others, together with Arabic.

He has an inner pressure that is not possible to fathom without knowing him individually, however easy to appreciate from afar. His health, eating regimen, and talents, married to herbal talent, are worthy of admiration if no longer love.

Deciding sporting greatness is a fraught commercial enterprise due to the fact tough records tell a whole lot of the tale, but not all of it.

Using simple numbers and information will reveal that Steve Smith is a better Test batter than AB de Villiers or Brian Lara.

When and how runs were scored, the healthy state of affairs, the strength of the competition, the kingdom of the pitch, the scenario of the series it turned into performed in and the high quality of teammates on the difficult aspect are just some elements that truly crunching numbers don’t display.

That’s a small example of why carrying records as the only size of greatness isn't always definitive.

When Smith bats, it looks as if he is being attacked by means of a swarm of wasps, while Lara and De Villiers were as smooth and enjoyable as a cake mixture being poured into a bowl.

Clearly, there are several ways to get the process achieved.

And Djokovic does get the activity finished. He’s statistically given it executed better than everyone in records. It makes him extraordinary. Does that make him the GOAT?