Novak Djokovic is the GOAT and 'most complete', Roger Federer is the Michael Jordan of Tennis says Nick Kyrgios
ATPSaturday, 20 January 2024 at 03:30
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has called Serbia’s
Novak Djokovic the Greatest Player of All Time (GOAT) but believes that
Switzerland’s Roger Federer is the ‘Michael Jordan’ of tennis.
There has been a debate about who is the greatest player out
of the Big Three comprised of Djokovic, Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
Kyrgios, who is currently spending time on the sidelines as
he continues his recovery from an injury, was recently quoted in a report where
he highlighted the difference between the likes of the current world number and
the former world number one.
"I mean the greatest of all time is definitely Novak,”
he said. “But that doesn’t mean - if I said who would I want to go out there
and want to watch, Roger Federer is the nicest to watch. He’s the most
talented, makes the game look effortless, like the Michael Jordan of tennis.
"Without Roger, would there have been a Novak, a Nadal,
someone to chase? But statistics, it’s hard to have a conversation any more. He’s
the most complete player, on all surfaces as well, because Nadal is dominant on
one surface whereas Novak has had that pretty much everywhere.
"Just the ability to redirect I think is so underrated.
That’s one thing I felt playing him, he could just change direction on anything
I hit and when you put it to him it’s high percentage, it’s crazy."
Djokovic is often regarded as the most successful player in
the history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24
Grand Slam titles.
On the other hand, Federer was the first player ever in the
history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era to win more than 15 Grand Slam
titles in his career. He also became the first men’s player to win 20 major
titles.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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