Forget tennis GOAT, should Novak Djokovic be considered the all-sports GOAT now after the Olympics gold?
Novak Djokovic captured the only title that eluded him, an Olympic gold medal for his country, during the Paris Olympics 2024. The Serbian did so in fine style, defeating his oldest rival Rafael Nadal as well as his current nemesis Carlos Alcaraz to win the gold. The 37-year-old's achievement was made even more special as he did not drop a single set en route to Olympic gold.
Now, with Djokovic having "completed tennis", the GOAT debate looks to be settled once and for all. The Serbian has won everything that his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have won, adding more titles and trophies than the duo.
Novak Djokovic has cemented his place as the tennis GOAT
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer found themselves in the GOAT debate due to their tennis records and dominance during the same era. However, Djokovic has now claimed the GOAT throne. The Serbian secured the only title that had eluded him, an Olympic gold medal, to complete the set of all major trophies in tennis.
![Novak Djokovic celebrates winning the Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 [Source: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/5e232-17229364501563-1920.jpg?w=500)
Going by the sheer weight of numbers, Djokovic is the undisputed GOAT of tennis. Along with Olympic gold, Djokovic also has the most number of Grand Slam titles at 24, which is more than Nadal's (22) and Federer's (20). The Serbian has also spent the most weeks as World No. 1 in the ATP rankings and has won 99 titles in his career.
The Serbian has achieved more in the game than any other man in history and he is still going strong, competing for major trophies at the age of 37. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it is hard to argue against Djokovic being the GOAT of tennis. However, the Serbian has entered the conversation of the greatest athlete of all time with his recent performances.
Should Djokovic be in the conversation for being the greatest athlete of all time?
Apart from tennis, Djokovic should be in consideration as the greatest athlete of all time, period. The Serbian has achieved everything possible in tennis and is still going strong at the ripe age of 37. Djokovic has quickly built up his reputation amongst his peers and is now one of the most famous athletes in the world.
Djokovic's longevity and fitness stand as a testament to his dedication to tennis. The Serbian follows a strict diet with no days off which has enabled him to stay competing with the next generation of players. His fitness and diet have helped him stay fit and largely avoid serious injuries during the later stages of his career.
Djokovic underwent surgery on his right knee after the French Open and recovered well to compete at Wimbledon with less than a month's recuperation. The Serbian followed up his runner-up finish in London with a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite winning it all, Djokovic is hungry for more success, and that separates him from the rest.
After the Olympics, Djokovic shared posts about his win on his social media accounts and they were met with a rapturous response. Sporting icons from all over the world joined in to congratulate the Serbian on his historic achievement.
Soccer stars like Erling Haaland and Neymar shared their thoughts on his post. Basketball legend LeBron James also congratulated the Serbian. Ons Jabeur, Kevin Pietersen, and Rafael Nadal also extended their warm regards to the 37-year-old.
While ranking the top 100 athletes of the 21st Century, ESPN ranked Novak Djokovic at No. 11, which fetlt a bit harsh on the Serbian. Djokovic has proved time and time again that he is not only the king of tennis but also a "one of a kind" athlete that the sporting world will never see again.