Novak Djokovic given 'GOAT' tag by Reilly Opelka amid Serb's Davis Cup stint
Reilly Opelka recently gave Novak Djokovic the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) tag as the Serb prepares for the Davis Cup. Serbia has attained an unassailable 3-1 lead against Greece, with victories from Miomir Kecmanovic, Djokovic, and the doubles pairing of Hamad Medjedovic and the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic took to Instagram to share some snaps from the 'World Cup of Tennis' with the Serbian team. In some pictures, he can be seen practicing, while in others he is pictured giving interviews. The 37-year-old also acknowledged the fans' support, sharing a snap of fans with the Serbian flags. In another video, he was captured interacting and clicking pictures with the supporters.
"Long live Serbia. Let's go for the wins," the Serb captioned the pictures, translated from Serbian.
Reilly Opelka left a goat emoji on his post, seemingly tagging him as the Greatest Of All Time. He commented:
"🐐"
This isn't the first time Opelka has declared his admiration for the 37-year-old, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal in men's singles.
Reilly Opelka: "Novak Djokovic is the undisputed greatest tennis player that has ever lived"
Reilly Opelka appeared on an episode of the Inside In podcast in May 2023 and heaped praise on Novak Djokovic, saying that his ability to take a stand, unlike his peers, made him the 'undisputed greatest tennis player that has ever lived.'
“People like criticizing Novak. He has applied those concepts that he has in life like him having the courage to just take a stand, not play both sides of the coin like how his peers do and just face things head on is the reason why he is the undisputed greatest tennis player that has ever lived,” Opelka said.
The American also stated that Djokovic was not well-liked by the tennis media because he always took a stand and never embraced neutrality.
“He puts himself on the line and I respect that, part of it because the media has never given him a fair shake because like I said, he doesn’t play into what they want so he’s the enemy of the tennis media. Most players are super grateful for him, he’s a pro’s pro, he really is," he added.
Reilly Opelka last played at the 2024 US Open, losing in the first round to Lorenzo Musetti.