Chris Eubanks reveals player he thinks is the GOAT
American star Chris Eubanks has revealed he believes Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time because the Serbian great “has the numbers.”
The world No 29 described Djokovic as “the best all around tennis player”, while recognising the impact Roger Federer had on the sport.
Djokovic has won a men’s record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, while his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Federer hold 22 and 20 majors respectively.
The 36-year-old has also spent the most weeks ranked as world No 1, won the most ATP Masters 1000 titles, and holds a winning record against Nadal and Federer.
The Serbian is the only player since Rod Laver to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once, achieving the feat when he claimed the 2016 French Open crown.
Speaking to Prime Video’s Sports Talk, Eubanks was asked whether he believed Djokovic was the ‘GOAT’ above Federer and Nadal.
“Yeah, I think so. Personally. It’s just my opinion. The thing is, ‘GOAT’ conversations are so subjective. It’s all dependent on what you like. The same thing could be said for [Michael] Jordan, LeBron [James]. It’s like, who means more to the sport? Who has had the biggest impact on the sport,” explained the American.
“You can make an argument that it’s Federer, because Federer changed the way that, you know, professional tennis players were viewed globally. He was a global icon. But in terms of just being a tennis player and titles, records, weeks at No 1, prize [money], whatever, you name it. He (Djokovic) has the numbers.
“So, it’s tough to really make an argument based on fact, but somebody can make the argument to say Federer meant more to the sport of tennis, I am not really going to argue with you on that, if that’s what your ‘GOAT’ means.
“Mine is just the best all around tennis player. You can take a tennis player, drop them on any surface against any opponent on any day in any year, and you are probably going to be like, ‘Novak is probably going to be the best one out of everyone’. I would say personally.”
Eubanks achieved a significant breakthrough by reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships last month. The 27-year-old also made the last eight at his home tournament in Atlanta last week, taking him to a career-high ranking of 29.
The American will face Sho Shimabukuro in his opening match at the Citi Open in Washington this week.
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