Novak Djokovic: The GOAT of Men's Tennis

Novak Djokovic is now a three-time champion
on the clay courts at Roland Garros in Paris.

I was hoping I would never have to write this article. 

But I have also known for some time that it was likely just a matter of time before I would have no choice.

That time has come...

Last weekend, in Paris, France, Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the French Open for the third time. In so doing, he became the first man to ever win 23 Grand Slam tournament titles, breaking a tie with Rafael Nadal at 22. Djokovic also became the first man to ever win all four Grand Slam tournaments at least three (3) times.

It is a truly stunning and unprecedented achievement—not only in the world of men's tennis, but in the world of SPORTS generally speaking.  

With this tournament result officially in the history books, the time has come for Freedom Focused to grant "The Djoker" the undisputed title of the Greatest of All Time (The GOAT). It pains me a little to relinquish this title to Djokovic, which Freedom Focused had previously awarded to Rafael Nadal.

Click HERE to read The Undisputed GOAT in Men's Tennis published on June 8, 2022 after last year's French Open, which Nadal won (his 22nd Grand Slam title), moving him ahead of Federer and Djokovic, both of which had 20 Grand Slam titles (at the time).

If you read our previous article, which granted GOAT status to Rafa, you will know that that was also a bit painful because I am and always will be a Roger Federer fan first and a Rafael Nadal fan second. This bias, however, makes our decision to grant GOAT status to Djokovic all the more authentic and credible because it's not something we are subjectively inclined to do. Indeed, for us, Roger Federer will always be the greatest tennis player of all time because we like him best. And we are not alone in boosting his popularity. Many (if not most) tennis fans would certainly call Roger the most beautiful, graceful, friendly, and likeable player of all time.  

Objectively speaking, however, the STATS tell a clear story at this point in time and that storyline is relatively unambiguous: Novak Djokovic is the greatest men's tennis player of all time—PERIOD—and with Roger retired and injury-prone Rafa nearing retirement, it is more-or-less a foregone conclusion that Djokovic will continue to hold onto GOAT status for not only years (and perhaps decades) to come, but very possibly forever on this planet.  

Here are the indisputable FACTS registered on the actual TENNIS COURT:

Grand Slam Tournament Titles:  Djokovic (23), Nadal (22), Federer (20)

Big Tournament Titles:  Djokovic (67), Nadal (59), Federer (54)

Weeks Holding the World #1 Ranking:  Djokovic (378), Federer (310), Nadal (209)

Perhaps even more tellingly than these compelling stats, Djokovic also has a winning head-to-head record against both Nadal (30-29) and Federer (27-23), the two biggest rivals throughout his storied career.  

In other words, Djokovic not only has all of the most significant records in men's tennis, but he achieved those records while rising in the shadows of the two other greatest players of all time (Federer and Nadal). Had anyone else in tennis history matched Djokovic's numbers, they would most likely be proclaimed the GOAT; but the fact that he accomplished these remarkable feats while having to compete with the top to other GOAT candidates simply seals the deal—PERIOD.

Congratulations, Novak. While we wish we would have been able to write this same article about our man, Roger, you have simply beaten him (and Rafa) and we are mesmerized by the scope and extent of your achievements on the tennis court, which are demi-god like. You deserve to be called "The GOAT" and we find it unlikely that anyone will ever surpass the numbers you have (and continue to) compile.  

Novak: YOU are a TRUE CHAMPION. Thank you for demonstrating to us—and the rest of the world—what is possible through great desire and focused Self-Action Leadership exercised consistently over the space of three decades.  

Yours in Tennis, Sports, and Human Performance in general— 

—Freedom Focused LLC (Dr. JJ)

—Dr. JJ

June 17, 2023

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 327th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 151st consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

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