As the debate rages on about who deserves the title of best mens’ tennis player of all time, there’s one significant advantage Novak Djokovic holds over his rivals for the crown: He’s got a lot of fight left in him.
For some years, the ongoing debate has revolved around three iconic players, but Swiss icon Roger Federer retired last year with 20 Grand Slam titles.
And his absence from the battle might now see him losing out after Serbia’s Djokovic drew level with Spanish legend Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open over the weekend.
While Nadal has had multiple injury concerns in recent years, suggesting he might be thinking of retirement himself, he could still add to his trophy list, as we know Djokovic is likely to do, leaving the two of them locked firmly in battle.
Fit and healthy
And though he is less than a year younger than 36-year-old Nadal, Djokovic looked to be fit and healthy during his straight-sets demolition of 24-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open.
READ MORE: Djokovic downs Tsitsipas in Australian Open final to equal Nadal’s slam record
So, in terms of results, character and style, there are arguably still three men in line as the greatest of any generation, but the reality is that Federer has probably already been outplayed by the longevity of his peers.
Similarly, Nadal is going to have to dig deep to bounce back from his latest injury (a torn muscle in his hip) which saw him crashing out in the second round at Melbourne Park.
But for Djokovic, the future now is as bright as it has been at any point in his career.
He has won five of the last seven Grand Slam tournaments he’s played, and he is back at No 1 in the world rankings after his latest triumph, as he continues to display some of the best form of his career. And if he can keep going for another few seasons, Djokovic might rack up the sort of record that would take a back-breaking effort to emulate.
Then there won’t be much more left to debate about who wears the crown as the greatest. Djokovic will ensure there is nothing to argue about.
