Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time with former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli saying “we have to look at purely the facts”.
Fresh from winning a third Roland Garros title to move to 23 Grand Slams – one more than Rafael Nadal in terms of most majors won by a man – Djokovic is eyeing another record-breaking trophy at Wimbledon.
The defending champion is looking to win a fifth consecutive title at SW19 and victory in a fortnight will also see him draw level with Roger Federer’s record eight titles won at Wimbledon in the Open Era while a title run will help him move two ahead of Nadal in the race for most Slams.
Besides being the leader in terms of majors, Djokovic also holds numerous other records as he has spent 389 weeks at No 1 with Federer well adrift in second place with 310 weeks.
The Serbian is also the only player of the Big Three to have won three Career Grand Slams, while he leads the head-to-head against both Nadal and Federer. He is 30-29 against Nadal and was 27-23 against Federer before the Swiss retired.
2013 Wimbledon winner Bartoli feels Djokovic’s records speak for themselves.
“Success determines if you’re the greatest or not, and records determine if you’re the greatest or not,” she told Tennis Majors’ Match Points podcast. “When you look at the numbers, because obviously you mentioned the three players involved in that discussion are Roger, Rafa and Novak, I know that Novak has the greatest record against the two of them.”
She added: “The debate is really about the success obviously on different surfaces with what Novak has been able to achieve once again, he’s the only player winning every single Grand Slam three times or more, then it’s about the record against the opposition, which is Roger and Rafa, and once again is the leader.
“Weeks at No 1 in the world? He’s the leader. Finishing the years as the No 1 player? He’s leading – he’s just leading every single stat.”
Having retired last year, 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer can no longer improve his statistics but Nadal is still going and hopes to make a return in 2024.
For now, Bartoli feels the topic about the GOAT “is closed”.
“As analysts we have to look at purely the facts, and in that department, the discussion, as it is now – once again Rafa can come back and come back into the discussion as well because obviously he hasn’t announced his retirement – but as we stand before Wimbledon 2023 the debate is closed,” the Frenchwoman concluded.