Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic considers Serbian great Novak Djokovic as the best player in the history of the sport. Ivanisevic believes that the Serbian will also break Roger Federer’s record for most weeks at No. 1 and most number of Grand Slams won in history.

Djokovic recently won the Australian Open, and he was definitely impressive in his victory over Dominic Thiem at the Rod Laver Arena. That was Djokovic’s eighth Australian Open title.

Ivanisevic had so much confidence in Djokovic, and he was right to believe in what the Serbian can do. Djokovic might just win more this season with his current level of play.

‘I do not believe Novak will play for another five years, although he has a very good five years’, said Ivanisevic. ‘He will most likely top the Federer record for most weeks at No. 1 after the US Open and the record for most Grand Slams next year. He can even do that this year, for which he would have to win all three remaining Slams. But if he wins all three, then he has again done something that only Rod Laver has managed’.

He knows that it would be a tough task for the Serbian as the competition continues to get tighter with young players getting better and better each day. With the two other players of the Big Three still in play, that challenge gets more complicated.

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‘I repeat, for me, he is already the best tennis player in history. When he is present, ready and healthy, there is no one better’, Ivanisevic explained. ‘What will be looked at at the end of their careers will be decided by people, but I think Novak will be the best in all relevant categories’.

Djokovic came off a comeback victory against Thiem. His strong fifth set earned him respect from one of his Serbian coaches in Ivanisevic.

‘It was a different match, one that will not be remembered for its beauty but for its turnaround’, Ivanisevic explained Djokovic’s comeback win. ‘It was turned by one or two points. Nole started off great, controlled things and then at 1-1 started feeling bad. And everything turned. The most important point for me was 1-1 in the fourth set, a break-point for Thiem where Nole played the net as if he were in training’.

Ivanisevic knew how emotion played out the rest of the game. He went to talk to Thiem right after the latter went to the locker room.

‘At the time, it looked like he could break when he wanted. I was a little sorry for Thiem, I told him in the locker room, “Look, if anyone knows how you feel, then I know.” He says, “I know you know, but I won't wait as long as you do to win a Grand Slam.”’, Ivanisevic said.

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Words: Paul Daniel Flores

Image: PA