OT: Djoker Becomes Undisputed GOAT

[Rust_Cohle]

I was surprised Joker got booed yesterday after retiring. If Rafa or Fed retired like he did they would have gotten a standing ovation and be praised for their toughness trying to compete.

Never seen an arguable goat like him who just does not have the fan support….

Nothing arguable about Novak being the GOAT, has one of the most complete resume in sports history, let alone tennis.

Tennis crowds have gotten insanely bad at grand slams in recent years. Djokovic winning as much as he has despite hostile crowds is what makes his goat status even more impressive.

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/tennis/news/alexander-zverev-slams-australian-open-crowd-novak-djokovic-reaction/912f2a65882367201410e3fd

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/24/give-us-our-goat-back-tribalism-remains-a-bar-to-appreciating-djokovics-greatness

But having said all that, I actually think fan support has gotten better for him over time. His Olympics gold medal was massive and the crowd loved it.

[WarriorGM]

I was surprised Joker got booed yesterday after retiring. If Rafa or Fed retired like he did they would have gotten a standing ovation and be praised for their toughness trying to compete.

Never seen an arguable goat like him who just does not have the fan support….

It was the Australian Open and there was the covid controversy at that tournament previously and another controversy during this tournament with Djokovic refusing to do interviews with one of the Australian media outfits covering the tournament until he got an apology because of something one of its commentators said about Serbians.

[azcatz11]

38 years old and in the semis at the French. This is unreal stuff

[schnakenpopanz]

in sense of durability maybe, but in sense of peak dominace and tennis, no one will beat what nadal has done.

[Rust_Cohle]

in sense of durability maybe, but in sense of peak dominace and tennis, no one will beat what nadal has done.

Djokovic easily did. His run from 2010-2024 is the greatest 14 year stretch on a variety of surfaces in tennis history. Superior H2H to nadal and Federer. Nadal hasn’t beaten Djokovic on a hardcourt since 2013…and he’s younger than him.

Novak 2011 and 2015 might be 2 of the most dominant seasons in the history of tennis.

[bovice]

in sense of durability maybe, but in sense of peak dominace and tennis, no one will beat what nadal has done.

Djokovic easily did. His run from 2010-2024 is the greatest 14 year stretch on a variety of surfaces in tennis history. Superior H2H to nadal and Federer. Nadal hasn’t beaten Djokovic on a hardcourt since 2013…and he’s younger than him.

Novak 2011 and 2015 might be 2 of the most dominant seasons in the history of tennis.

yeah dude made nadal his b**** for long stretches. it sucks some of those French open matches didn't pan out

[schnakenpopanz]

that's his advantage that 2 grand slam surfaces are hard court
but you can say the same about clay.

in my perspective nothing will beat the wimbledon final between nadal and federer. might be the rumble in the jungle for tennis.
btw multile things can be true at the same time. i am not in any way saying that djokovic has not played goat level tennis.
esp the last few years as he is gtting older it is very hard keeping up with the young guns.

[Chuck Everett]

Nadal is an all-time great, yet without question a Clay-Court merchant.

[Rust_Cohle]

in sense of durability maybe, but in sense of peak dominace and tennis, no one will beat what nadal has done.

Djokovic easily did. His run from 2010-2024 is the greatest 14 year stretch on a variety of surfaces in tennis history. Superior H2H to nadal and Federer. Nadal hasn’t beaten Djokovic on a hardcourt since 2013…and he’s younger than him.

Novak 2011 and 2015 might be 2 of the most dominant seasons in the history of tennis.

yeah dude made nadal his b**** for long stretches. it sucks some of those French open matches didn't pan out

Nadal is insane on clay but Novak beating him 3 times there is mental

[Rust_Cohle]

that's his advantage that 2 grand slam surfaces are hard court
but you can say the same about clay.

in my perspective nothing will beat the wimbledon final between nadal and federer. might be the rumble in the jungle for tennis.
btw multile things can be true at the same time. i am not in any way saying that djokovic has not played goat level tennis.
esp the last few years as he is gtting older it is very hard keeping up with the young guns.

Yeah that Wimbledon final was an all timer for sure. That other one with him and Djokovic at Australian open that went 6 hours and they had to bring chairs out during the trophy ceremony was crazy too.

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Often begrudgingly I have praised Djoker as a Fed fan but damn is he ever the epitome of that Serb stubborn resilience. Huge respect for what he's doing and at 38!

[floppymoose]

my fav was the 1991 US Open Conners run (at age 39).

Watch on YouTube

[G R E Y]

I'm going to need a new TV:

Read on Twitter

[EmpireFalls]

Nadal was way, way, way better than anyone to ever play the game on the surface of clay.

The gap between him and #2 is bigger than any other gap (Federer to Sampras/Djokovic/Borg on grass, Djokovic to Federer/Sampras on hard court) in tennis history.

That is his GOAT claim basically.

[_NoMas]

38 years old and in the semis at the French. This is unreal stuff

The absolute best ever. Unfortunately though this 38 year old version is probably going to lose in 3 or 4 to Sinner who looks a level above right now. I hope I’m wrong…

[durden_tyler]

38 years old and in the semis at the French. This is unreal stuff

The absolute best ever. Unfortunately though this 38 year old version is probably going to lose in 3 or 4 to Sinner who looks a level above right now. I hope I’m wrong…

You're not, Sinner should handle him pretty easily.

[Rust_Cohle]

Nadal was way, way, way better than anyone to ever play the game on the surface of clay.

The gap between him and #2 is bigger than any other gap (Federer to Sampras/Djokovic/Borg on grass, Djokovic to Federer/Sampras on hard court) in tennis history.

That is his GOAT claim basically.

Unfortunately the entire tennis world doesn’t revolve only on clay. And for as good as he is on clay, he’s still had an inferior H2H to Novak and hasn’t beaten him on hardcourt since 2013. Which is insane considering how many hardcourt tourneys there are. Also, by far and away most tennis players best surface is hardcourt so you’re going to find harder competition on hard court with everyone being more comfortable on that surface than clay which is only a very small part of the season.

No question what nadal has done is amazing on clay, someone will break 25 grand slams before all those Roland garros. But Djokovic is the best all rounder when we take all surfaces. To be the GOAT it can’t just be on one surface as amazing as Rafa on clay is. Same reason why Nadal himself has Novak as the GOAT.

[azcatz11]

38 years old and in the semis at the French. This is unreal stuff

The absolute best ever. Unfortunately though this 38 year old version is probably going to lose in 3 or 4 to Sinner who looks a level above right now. I hope I’m wrong…

You're not, Sinner should handle him pretty easily.

Anything sinner does this tournament comes with a huge asterisk. He shouldn’t even be playing

[ball_takes23]

If sports evolved as fast as what people claim then shouldn't the new generation of stronger, faster, more skilled athletes who are entering their primes be wiping the floor with a 38 year-old legend of the game who peaked athletically in 2015?

[G R E Y]

Nadal was way, way, way better than anyone to ever play the game on the surface of clay.

The gap between him and #2 is bigger than any other gap (Federer to Sampras/Djokovic/Borg on grass, Djokovic to Federer/Sampras on hard court) in tennis history.

That is his GOAT claim basically.

Unfortunately the entire tennis world doesn’t revolve only on clay. And for as good as he is on clay, he’s still had an inferior H2H to Novak and hasn’t beaten him on hardcourt since 2013. Which is insane considering how many hardcourt tourneys there are. Also, by far and away most tennis players best surface is hardcourt so you’re going to find harder competition on hard court with everyone being more comfortable on that surface than clay which is only a very small part of the season.

No question what nadal has done is amazing on clay, someone will break 25 grand slams before all those Roland garros. But Djokovic is the best all rounder when we take all surfaces. To be the GOAT it can’t just be on one surface as amazing as Rafa on clay is. Same reason why Nadal himself has Novak as the GOAT.

OT but I always winced watching Nadal slide on hard courts. The joint impact took way longer than I thought it would, but eventually took its toll.