Novak Djokovic, the tennis sensation, recently made history by winning the French Open and claiming the most number of Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis. This achievement sets him apart from other athletes, with only three women having matched his feat of winning all four Grand Slams at least three times. While there are other exceptional athletes in the conversation, none can surpass Djokovic’s remarkable accomplishments.
Love him or not, there’s no denying that Djokovic is a true winner. While he may not be considered the greatest athlete ever or the GOAT of tennis, his career and achievements thus far place him in a league of his own, comparable to the dominance of Michael Jordan in the 1990s. Jordan stood out not only as a phenomenal basketball player but also as an incredibly competitive individual, exuding an aura of invincibility and leading his teams to new heights. Since Jordan’s era, few athletes have attained the level of dominance and consistent victories against top-tier competition that Djokovic has, making him the greatest winner since Jordan.
Djokovic’s recent win at the French Open marked his 23rd Grand Slam victory, surpassing Rafael Nadal and standing alone as the record-holder. He has triumphed in each Grand Slam a minimum of three times, a feat achieved by only three women’s players. Moreover, he has secured at least one Grand Slam title in 13 different seasons and an impressive 12 of the last 13 years. What makes Djokovic’s accomplishments even more astounding is the caliber of players he has competed against. With Nadal and Roger Federer, both considered among the three greatest players in men’s tennis history, competing alongside him, Djokovic has emerged as the most successful, winning Grand Slams more frequently and consistently than his esteemed rivals. While Federer may enjoy greater popularity and admiration, he has retired with 20 Grand Slam titles, while Djokovic shows no signs of slowing down. Additionally, while Federer managed to win all four Slams, he only triumphed once at the challenging French Open, played on clay. On the other hand, although Nadal has conquered all four Slams, his career has been plagued by injuries, impeding him from keeping pace with Djokovic.
Acknowledging Djokovic as the greatest winner of the past 25 years is not a decision to be made lightly. There are other notable contenders, but each falls short for various reasons. Serena Williams, who can be considered 1b to Djokovic’s 1a, possesses 23 Grand Slam titles, second only to Margaret Court. However, unlike Djokovic, Williams never had the opportunity to consistently compete against and defeat another all-time great, which somewhat weakens her case as the GOAT. Tiger Woods, on the other hand, could have rivaled Djokovic’s dominance in golf, but his career was marred by injuries, a significant car accident, and personal controversies that prevented him from challenging Jack Nicklaus’ record for the most major championships. Lionel Messi, a strong candidate for the soccer GOAT, has an unparalleled collection of trophies, including seven Ballon d’Ors and four Champions League titles. However, his lone World Cup victory came when he was 35, and Argentina’s performance in the tournament during his prime left much to be desired. In contrast, Djokovic consistently excelled in the biggest events throughout his career.
Looking beyond individual sports, Tom Brady’s status as the greatest winner becomes more complex as team sports present additional challenges in attributing success. Brady undoubtedly played a significant role in the New England Patriots’ success, but he had the advantage of being coached by Bill Belichick, one of the greatest coaches in history, and playing alongside a strong defense. While Brady’s recent Super Bowl victory with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers solidifies his case, it cannot be denied that he had support along the way. Similarly, LeBron James, an NBA great and potential basketball GOAT, has reached the NBA Finals an impressive 10 times but only has a 4-6 record in those series, including some disappointing losses to lower-ranked teams. In comparison, Djokovic consistently performed at a high level and rarely faltered in major events.
The likes of Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and Usain Bolt, all extraordinary Olympians, deserve recognition for their exceptional achievements. However, their success is difficult to gauge considering that their dominance is most evident during the Olympic Games, which only occur every four years and capture the attention of the average sports fan for a limited time. Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic medals, but swimming offers numerous individual events, providing more opportunities for medal wins. Biles, while impressive with her seven medals, earned all four of her gold medals in a single Olympics. Bolt, despite winning eight gold medals across three Olympics, participated in a small subset of running events, albeit the most high-profile ones.
While all these athletes are undoubtedly exceptional winners, they fall short when compared to Djokovic, who stands out as the greatest winner since Jordan.
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