‘Novak Djokovic is the GOAT and only one athlete in any sport is comparable’, claims former world No 4

Ewan West 22 Sep 2023 9:55 AM

Novak Djokovic wins a 24th Grand Slam title

Greg Rusedski has labelled Novak Djokovic as the greatest tennis player of all time and believes NFL legend Tom Brady is the only athlete comparable to the great Serb.

The former world No 4 described the 36-year-old as “the best athlete on the planet” and feels he will want to win “27, 28 majors” to further distance himself from the pack.

Djokovic overcame world No 3 Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the final of the 2023 US Open earlier this month to claim a fourth title at the New York major. The world No 1 has now won a men’s record 24 Grand Slam crowns.

The Serbian won three of the four major tournaments this year, while also losing an epic Wimbledon final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz. This is the fourth season of his career where he has secured three Grand Slam titles – a men’s record.

The 36-year-old also now has more majors in the Open Era than any other male or female player, with Serena Williams second on 23. His victory saw him tie Margaret Court for the all-time Grand Slam tally record.

Speaking on an episode of Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast, Rusedski declared that retired American football great Tom Brady is the only athlete to have matched Djokovic’s longevity.

“He wants to be known as the greatest of all time, not even have a debate about it. There’s only one athlete in sport I can think, especially in American sport – Tom Brady. Look at all the Super Bowls he’s won. Ironically, Tom Brady was there [at the 2023 US Open] watching Novak Djokovic,” said the 1997 US Open finalist.

“Novak to me is the best athlete on the planet at the moment bar any sport. I don’t care what sport you are talking about. His consistency, what he is doing on court and what he is doing at his age – nobody has done before apart from Tom Brady with the Super Bowl wins.

“Right now I’d say he’s the GOAT, wanting 27, 28 majors and distancing himself from the pack. He’s tied Margaret Court. Not only he wants to be the best male tennis player, he wants to be the best tennis player male, female, anything. An Olympic gold next year in Paris is huge for Novak.”

Rusedski, a former British No 1, won 15 ATP titles including the Paris Masters before his retirement in 2007.