Exclusive – Greg Rusedski puts a number on how many Grand Slam titles Novak Djokovic will win
Greg Rusedski believes Novak Djokovic is about to end the debate over who will be remembered as the greatest player of all time, as he eyes up on a remarkable clean sweep of Grand Slam titles in 2021 at the US Open.
Djokovic heads into the final major of the year with the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles already in his grasp and Rusedski believes a Calendar Grand Slam will be the defining stamp on the Serbian’s golden legacy.
Exclusive – Greg Rusedski suggests Andy Murray will answer his retirement question soon
Yet he does not believe Djokovic will rest if he moves ahead of his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal by winning a 21st Grand Slam title, as he predicts he has his eyes on more and more as he aims to ensure he is remembered as the greatest player of all time.
“I think he will get 25 and become the all-time Slam winner on the men’s and women’s tours, with Margaret Court’s record standing at 24,” Rusedski told Tennis365 at a Prime Video event.
“While the GOAT debate will always go on, he will have no questions to answer if he gets five and more ahead of Federer and Nadal.
“It’s hard to argue against the guy who has done a Calendar Slam and has 25 Grand Slams.
“Knowing how Novak works, he will want to put distance between himself and the other two guys and he wants to end the debate.
“We have a lot of fans who are passionate about each of the three guys who have dominated tennis and you need that to make in any sport sport. That’s why football is so successful. In tennis, we have the Big Three and they divide opinion among those who follow them.
“That’s why you need fan interaction. We have been so blessed with the ‘Big Three’ at the same time in our sport, but I think Djokovic will break all the records.
“The only way we can judge this is on numbers and Novak also has a winning record against the other two as well. The numbers don’t lie.”
Rusedski went on to suggest Djokovic is about to face the most challenging Grand Slam of his career at the US Open, with the hype around a potential calendar Grand Slam hanging over him.
“This is the most pressured Slam he will go into in his life,” he added. “Yes there is no Federer or Nadal this time, but Medvedev is playing great, Tsitsipas and Zverev are playing great, Zverev is playing so well and this will be pressure at its highest.
“You have to go all the way back to Rod Laver to find a player who did a calendar Grand Slam in the men’s game and that is all the way back in 1969.
“This is immense. This is for No 21, to put him ahead of Roger and Rafa in that race and to give him the Calendar Grand Slam.
“That’s why this US Open is going to be so special and we wait to see how he deals with it.
“We saw what the pressure did to Serena Williams when she tried to complete the calendar Grand Slam in 2015 and in the final matches, it was too much.
“No one could have predicted she would lose to Roberta Vinci in the US Open semi-final that year, but this is what pressure can do to you.
“Pressure can build and build, but he knows the three out of five set format should play into his hands at the US Open.”
The US Open is available to watch on Prime Video from Monday 30thAugust
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Charleston Open hand former No 1 wildcard to start her clay season
Wildcards were forthcoming for former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, world No 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Charleston-native Shelby Rogers.
-
Tennis News
Former world No 1 weighs in on Iga Swiatek’s ‘aura’ as he makes ‘intimidating’ claim
“The more accomplishments Iga Swiatek has, the more intimidating it is to play her.”
-
WTA Tour
Naomi Osaka’s clay swing fills out with Rouen wildcard
Naomi Osaka gets Rouen wildcard to kickstart her clay swing.
-
WTA Tour
Danielle Collins balks at being asked to explain retirement
Danielle Collins has responded to those who question why she has decided to retire from tennis at the end of the current season.
-
Tennis News
‘Novak Djokovic’s problem is psychological’, assesses Roger Federer’s former coach
“Undoubtedly, ‘Nole’ must have fire inside, otherwise he is missing something.”
-
Tennis News
Daniil Medvedev discusses his popularity compared to Carlos Alcaraz as he offers a theory
“For me, the result is the most important, it’s more important than, let’s say, looking good on the court.”
-
Tennis News
Andy Roddick gives honest verdict on Novak Djokovic’s shock coaching split
“I was surprised. You don’t look to make moves in March or April. This has had to be a surprise to both of them.”
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner makes revealing comment on his eyesight after Miami Open win
Jannik Sinner opened up on his use of contact lenses on court.
-
Tennis News
Martina Navratilova serves up a desperate verdict on Andy Murray’s comeback hopes
Andy Murray is likely to have to wait several days to learn how long he will be sidelined for by the ankle injury he suffered in Miami.
-
Tennis News
Jannik Sinner reveals he has been having Call of Duty sessions with Italian football hero
Jannik Sinner has had some high-profile gaming clashes with Italy’s No 1 goalkeeper.