Stefanos Tsitsipas sings different tune after Novak Djokovic GOAT remark – ‘I don’t want to give the whole title to him’

Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas shake hands

Shahida Jacobs
January 30, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas described Novak Djokovic as “the greatest that has ever held a tennis racket” after the Australian Open final, leading many to assume he felt Djokovic was the greatest of all time (GOAT), but Greek has clarified his comment.

Sunday’s final on Rod Laver Arena was lopsided affair as Djokovic brushed aside Tsitsipas in straight setss to win a 10th trophy at Melbourne Park and a 22nd Grand Slam title.

The Serbian’s latest success means he is now tied with Rafael Nadal for most majors won with many tennis commentators believing that the player who ends up with the most Grand Slam will go down as the GOAT.

However, others use different metrics to decide their GOAT and some insist Djokovic already has the title wrapped up due to his head-to-head record with Nadal and Roger Federer as well as the fact that has already spent a record amount of time as No 1 in the ATP Rankings.

Tsitsipas appeared to declare Djokovic as the greatest of all time during the trophy presentation ceremony, saying: “I would like to say one more time Novak brings out the best in me. He’s one of the greatest in our sport and he’s the greatest that has ever held a tennis racket for sure.”

However, during a post-match press conference the Greek sang a slightly different tune: “The numbers speak for themselves. It’s 22, isn’t it? We have other great champions, too, like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer also, in my opinion, one of the best our sport has ever seen. But not only our sport, sports in general.

“I think we’re blessed that we have three big champions like this. I don’t want to give the whole title to him, because I believe there are other players that have contributed a lot, and they’re the main reason I am here today as well. Novak is one of them, too. I’ve been watching him as a kid, as well. I really liked the way he did things on the court with his game.”

However, that didn’t take away from the fact that his respects and admires Djokovic not only as an on-court rival, but an off-court giant of the game.

He added: “I definitely meant it. He has earned it with so much dedication that he has put in, with so much professionalism in his everyday life. It’s a wake-up call for me to sort of do the same. I can only learn from that. I can only use that for my benefit. I’m blessed that I get the opportunity to do that.

“In today’s world with social media, all the information you can extract, the news is actually the best era to be playing tennis at.”

Novak Djokovic Stefanos Tsitsipas