Anyone not picking Novak Djokovic as the GOAT is an 'insane human' says Andy Roddick: "Very simply, that's the way it is"
ATPThursday, 29 February 2024 at 21:30
Andy
Roddick asserted that anyone who doesn't choose Novak Djokovic as the GOAT
(Greatest of All Time) is an 'insane human.' The American shared his verdict on
the debate about the greatest tennis player of all time and positioned the
24-times Grand Slam champion above Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The
36-year-old Serbian maintains his position as the world No. 1 and secured three
Grand Slam titles in 2023, making him the all-time leader in major victories
and, for many, settling the Big-3 discussion.
In the
latest episode of his podcast Served, Andy Roddick had no doubt that
Djokovic's numbers back up his claim: “What’s making this GOAT thing so weird
is that we never really get anything that’s like final. The [Michael]
Jordan/LeBron [James] debate is like, ‘Ok LeBron has less, but he played
this’,” the American said.
“There are
other factors involved where it’s like, this conversation is largely like math
doesn’t care about your feelings. It doesn’t care about your vaccination status,”
Roddick added. “If you line up these three resumes (Djokovic, Nadal and
Federer), and if you choose any of them but this one (Novak), you’re an insane
human. Very simply, that’s the way it is.”
“Everything
else is about preference of what you like to watch. You like the
ballet/artistry, you like the blunt force trauma of Rafa. I’ve always said what
Novak does so well doesn’t immediately jump off the screen to an untrained
tennis eye.”
According
to Roddick, it's natural for some fans to prefer Nadal and Federer because they
have a different style of play compared to Djokovic: "What Roger does very
well is very obvious. It’s amazing if you know tennis as well as I do, and it’s
amazing if it’s the first tennis match you’ve ever watched," the former
world No. 1 said.
“Rafa, the
physicality with which he can play, the RPMs, his speed, the drama of when he’s
running something down, even the drama of his grunts, it all makes sense where
you know he’s this gladiatorial figure.
“Whereas
Novak, he’s a surgeon. He’s literally picking you apart. You have to make these
huge risk trade-offs to make an impact on him. He knows it and you know it that
you probably won’t be able to do it over the course of three or four hours.
“Most of
us, large scale debates, aren’t great at nuance. We like the simple headline.
And Novak’s game frankly doesn’t provide that simple headline often enough. But
if you can make an argument against his numbers, you’re being wilfully ignorant
at this point,” he concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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