After securing his 23rd grand slam victory, it is time to acknowledge Novak Djokovic’s incredible accomplishments and give him the credit he deserves. While some fans may admire Roger Federer’s elegance or Rafael Nadal’s clay court precision, the numbers speak for themselves. When you analyze Djokovic’s entire career, past and present tennis players simply cannot match his record-breaking wins. Many compare his dominance to that of Michael Jordan in basketball during the 1990s.
Without a doubt, Djokovic is the greatest of all time (GOAT) and he is here to stay, whether people like it or not. It is commendable that he stands up for himself and doesn’t let others walk all over him. He stuck to his beliefs by refusing to get vaccinated and even won a court case against the Australian government. Good for him for staying true to his convictions.
Furthermore, his loyal fans have always supported him, regardless of the circumstances. They even placed bets on new Australian online gambling sites that offer sportsbook services!
Career Overview
The Serbian tennis star first caught the attention of spectators at the 2007 U.S. Open, where the then-20-year-old player reached his first major final. Although he lost to Federer, who was already an established force on the court, Djokovic proved himself as a player to watch. Throughout the years, his name has become intertwined with both Federer and Nadal.
Aside from his impressive gameplay, Djokovic captivated New York crowds with his charisma. He entertained audiences with post-match impressions of iconic tennis players and shared insights into his challenging upbringing in war-torn Balkans during the 1990s. His journey to the US became even more remarkable.
In June, Djokovic made history by winning the most major singles titles at the French Open. In his remarkable career, the tennis star has won the Australian Open 10 times, Wimbledon 7 times, the US Open 3 times, and Roland Garros 3 times. Djokovic has also won each of the Masters 1000 events twice, a feat unmatched by any other player in tennis history. At 36 years old, he is the oldest player since 1986 to triumph on the Philippe Chatrier court, surpassing Nadal’s record by 18 days. This latest victory reaffirms Djokovic’s position at the top, despite his age, and once again proves the skeptics wrong.
Controversies
Unfortunately, controversies seem to follow Djokovic both on and off the court, often overshadowing his achievements. Last year, he sparked a global spectacle when he tried to compete in the Australian Open without being vaccinated against COVID-19. After 10 days of negotiations, Djokovic was eventually barred from entering the country, which significantly damaged his public image. Consequently, he missed both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open as he was also banned from the United States for the rest of the year.
His most recent incident occurred at Roland Garros, where Djokovic became embroiled in a political dispute. He wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia” on a camera, sparking criticism from the Kosovo Tennis Federation and the French minister of sport, Amelie Oudea-Castera. While his comments were inappropriate, they related to the political unrest in Kosovo following the April local elections. Belgrade, Djokovic’s hometown, is considered the capital by the majority of the Serbian population.
What’s Next?
With 23 slam titles under his belt, could Djokovic add another by the end of this year? The odds are in his favor, especially considering he shows no signs of slowing down with age. Critics believe he still has about 4 good years left before retiring, so there will likely be more records broken in the near future. Djokovic continues to solidify his status not only as the GOAT of tennis, but also as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
