"Doesn't overshadow what Roger Federer did": Ljubicic believes Djokovic isn't the GOAT despite numbers stating different
Tennis NewsThursday, 20 July 2023 at 23:30
Ivan
Ljubicic expressed his opinion that Novak Djokovic is not the Greatest of All
Time (GOAT) in spite of his impressive numbers, and he backed Roger Federer for
that title.
The former
tennis player joined the long-standing discussion about the GOAT, which has had
fans debating for years about the greatest player in tennis history. The main
contenders in this debate are the BIG-3: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak
Djokovic, who hold the record for the most Grand Slam titles, significantly
ahead of other players.
Ljubicic,
who retired from professional tennis in 2012 at the age of 33, worked with
Federer during the latter part of his career, contributing to Federer's
successes in 2017 and 2018 with the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.
In a recent
statement, Ljubicic shared his perspective on who should be considered the GOAT
in tennis:
"GOAT? I might not be objective,” he said.
“The best
for me is the tennis player who has had the greatest impact on the sport he
plays. Novak Djokovic is the most successful tennis player, all the statistics
are on his side, but there is a difference between that and being the greatest.
Michael Jordan wasn't the most successful, but everyone considers him the
greatest.
"We don't
all have to agree, but what Djokovic is doing doesn't overshadow what Roger
Federer did."
When
commenting specifically about the Serbian, he recognized that he never expected
him to become a 23-time Grand Slam champion:
"Djokovic?
I am struck by his determination, the fire in his eyes.
“His
stubbornness in always wanting more and the way he exploits negative energies.
He always seeks balance, every day.He sometimes he seeks the love of people;
others, however, he wants hate: he is always looking for ways to motivate
himself. I admit I never thought I'd see him win 23 Grand Slams:
“When he
was playing in the junior circuit, he came to Riccardo Piatti's academy.We
trained together for a few months. Obviously, you could see that he had talent:
he moved well and was very agile. But technically he was average.
“His
backhand was good, but his forehand had problems and his serve a lot of room
for improvement. At the time I didn't expect him to win so much,” Ljubicic concluded.
Ljubicic
won 10 titles in his career, including the 2010 Indian Wells, where he defeated
the second seed Novak Djokovic, the defending champion Nadal, and won the final
against Andy Roddick.
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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