Novak Djokovic. Olympic champion. 🥇 Congratulations @DjokerNole on completing the career golden slam. 👏 #Paris2024 @Paris2024 @ITFTennis
"I don’t think so": Two-time Grand Slam winner refuses to call Novak Djokovic greatest athlete in sporting history despite completing his trophy cabinet
ATPSunday, 11 August 2024 at 12:45
Former Russian tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov has refused
to call Serbia’s Novak Djokovic as the greatest athlete in the history of
sports. The 37-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history
of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic recently participated in the Paris Olympics, where he finally completed his trophy cabinet after winning the gold medal for his country. He defeated Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the final in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6. Djokovic’s triumph in Paris sparked the debate about whether he
is the greatest athlete in the history of sports after achieving everything he
could’ve achieved.
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Kafelnikov, who is a former Russian tennis player and won
two Grand Slam titles, was recently quoted in a report by tennis365 where he
argued against Djokovic being labelled as the greatest athlete in the history
of sports. The 50-year-old was of the opinion that while the Serbian’s greatness
in tennis is unquestionable, he still cannot be put on the same level as
someone like NBA legend Michael Jordan.
“There’s no doubt that Novak is the greatest tennis player
of all time, that’s for sure. You can’t put him on the same level as Michael
Jordan… I don’t think so, because I grew up idolising the greatest athlete of
all time, which was Michael Jordan,” he said. “All I wanted to do was watch him
play live. To me, he’s still number one, but Novak is definitely in the top
three greatest athletes of all time, without a doubt – all the accomplishments,
the records he’s broken, the titles he’s won.”
Djokovic’s triumph in Parsi was special because of so many
reasons. One of those reasons is how he returned to the court so soon after
suffering a knee injury while playing on the same surface earlier this year.
The Belgrade-born star suffered an injury during the French Open which forced
him to withdraw from the competition just before the start of the quarterfinal
against Norway’s Casper Ruud.
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- Done, looks good!
AceOfBase17-09-2024 - FYI: The term 'snub' is a much overused verb by writers of sensationalist rags. [SNUB: rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully]. That is not the definition of what is going on with frequent withdrawals from tournaments.
mandoist16-09-2024 - No offence, Mr. Lloyd, but where have you been the past two years?? How long have you been a tennis fan? This 'article' may be informative for newbies or fair-weather tennis observers but the majority of fans know the root of the multiple issues within WTA. The #1 issue being the subject of health & well-being which has been (or has attempted to be) addressed with the WTA Elitist council members last season. WTA was extremely dismissive of players' concerns and opposed to such a meeting. Eventually giving-in due to publicity and allowed selective players only -- no rep's, no medical personnel, and no team members. The meeting was a farce as WTA soon after that released an even more hectic schedule... with mandatory tourneys! Guess they weren't taking notes?? BTW: There is a lot missing from this piece concerning "withdrawals". No writer has yet taken the jump to get behind the scenes and dig at the problems -- obvious organizational problems. IMO, the top two issues are WTA's lack of proper attention to health & well-being of its Money-Makers; and Financial Greed. Tip to Mr. Lloyd: there is no "snubbing" when these players withdraw. These women have to take such measures as withdrawing from a tourney, and occasional time-off from the circuit, to protect themselves -- because WTA refuses to take any measures at all (although not allowing matches until sunrise is a start). Surely you can do better than point fingers at players. The finger-pointing should be directed entirely at WTA (and ATP). Be a true journalist, Mr. Lloyd, and research them!!mandoist16-09-2024
- Uh-oh.... Now Raducanu is being forced to compete! Let's see who withdraws next... I wonder??mandoist15-09-2024
- And this is such a shock to WTA?? How many times are they (WTA & ATP) going to keep stepping in their own s*** ???mandoist15-09-2024
