Novak Djokovic labelled the GOAT and backed to keep playing ‘for a very long time’
ATP pro Lucas Pouille has described Novak Djokovic as the greatest tennis player ever and declared that “the figures speak for themselves” following the Serb’s Paris Masters triumph.
The former world No 10 thinks it is extraordinary that Djokovic “still seems the freshest” player despite his age and feels he “still has the energy to play for a very long time.”
Djokovic downed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the 2023 Paris Masters on Sunday to claim a record-extending seventh title at the event and 40th ATP Masters 1000 crown.
It was the 36-year-old’s 97th ATP title overall, with only American legend Jimmy Connors (109) and his former great rival Roger Federer (103) having claimed more.
The world No 1 has won three tournaments – Cincinnati, the US Open and the Paris Masters – during a run of 18 consecutive wins since his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has secured six titles during a glittering 2023 season so far, and is still due to compete at the ATP Finals next week and the Davis Cup Finals later this month.
Djokovic had to battle illness during his title run in Paris and came through three straight three-set battles against Tallon Griekspoor, Holger Rune and Andrey Rublev prior to the final.
Speaking to Eurosport, Pouille was full of praise for Djokovic following his victory in the French capital and labelled him as the tennis ‘GOAT.’
“Today, he is 36 years old, he has 19, 20 years of career, he has almost 100 titles and he is still just as hungry and what is extraordinary is that he still seems the freshest on the ground,” said the 29-year-old Frenchman.
“I think he can play for two, three or even four more years. The question is rather whether the desire will still be there. The desire to continue to make all these efforts, these sacrifices to be at the highest level. But for me, he still has the energy to play for a very long time.
“Is Novak Djokovic the greatest? Yes, well yes, the figures speak for themselves. For me, yes, it’s the biggest. He’s the GOAT as they say.”
Djokovic has faced Pouille three times – all in 2019 – and won each encounter in straight sets. The most notable meeting between the pair resulted in a 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 demolition by the great Serbian the semi-finals of the 2019 Australian Open.
