‘What Novak Djokovic has done does not tarnish what Roger Federer did’
Ivan Ljubicic has compared Roger Federer to NBA legend Michael Jordan and declared that Novak Djokovic’s achievements do not “tarnish” what the Swiss did for tennis.
The former world No 3, who coached Federer from 2016 until his retirement last year, argued “there is a difference between being the largest and the most successful.”
Federer won two Australian Open titles, his eighth and final Wimbledon crown and four ATP Masters 1000 events while the Croatian was part of his coaching team.
The 41-year-old called an end to his glittering 24-year playing career in 2022 after partnering Rafael Nadal in doubles at the Laver Cup his final match. He played his last singles match at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the quarter-finals to Hubert Hurkacz.
Ljubicic, a semi-finalist at the 2006 French Open, suggested Federer’s impact on tennis was more significant than his career achievements.
“You may not be objective in this. For me, the best is the one that has had the greatest impact on your sport. Novak is the most successful. It has all the statistics, but there is a difference between being the largest and the most successful,” Ljubicic told Tages Anzeiger.
“Michael Jordan was not the most successful, but everyone considers him the greatest for his influence on the sport. Not all of us have to agree. What Novak has done does not tarnish what Roger did.”
The 44-year-old, who won 10 ATP singles titles, also gave his thoughts on the possibility of his former charge becoming a coach himself.
“I can’t imagine him being a coach. I see him more as a mentor. He loves helping, but I don’t see him wanting to make the commitment that being a coach requires. He likes to do many things,” added the Croatian.
Federer won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, the third-most in the history of men’s tennis behind rivals Novak Djokovic and Nadal. He won 103 ATP singles titles, second only to Jimmy Connors, with his final title his 10th triumph at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in 2019.
The Swiss has seen many of his records matched or surpassed by Djokovic, who has also spent the most weeks as the ATP world No 1 and won the most Masters 1000 titles.
Federer has, though, still won the most Wimbledon men’s singles titles (eight) – with Carlos Alcaraz’s five-set victory in last week’s final denying seven-time champion Djokovic the chance to equal the Swiss.
