By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, July 11, 2021
Novak Djokovic seized history winning his sixth Wimbledon title—and settled the great debate in the process says his coach, Goran Ivanisevic.
The top-seeded Serbian defeated Italian Matteo Berrettini 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in today's Wimbledon final capturing a record-tying 20th career Grand Slam championship with his 21st consecutive major and Wimbledon win.
More: Djokovic Wins Wimbledon
The world No. 1 now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as each of the Big 3 own an astounding 20 major crowns.
Three iconic champions combining for a mind-blowing 60 Grand Slam singles titles is an audacious achievement. Yet factor in Djokovic's winning record against both rivals, his mastery all nine Masters 1000 championships, the fact he's held the world No. 1 ranking longest, owns more year-end world No. 1 finishes than Federer or Nadal and is the only man in Open Era history to win all four Grand Slam crowns twice and there can be no doubt Novak is GOAT says his coach.
"He is better and better. He's every day better competing," Ivanisevic said. "He's unbelievable competitor, unbelievable. Something new every day. Even when he's not playing the best tennis, he's winning. So imagine when he's playing the best tennis, is impossible to beat him."
Hall of Famer Ivanisevic, who also coached Marin Cilic to the 2014 US Open title, will not put a ceilling on how many career Grand Slams Djokovic will win. The man who made history winning Wimbledon as a wild card believes Djokovic will break Margaret Court's record of 24 major titles and complete the calendar Grand Slam by winning the US Open.
"Everything is possible. I'm not going to say it's 30 [majors] because it's long way," Ivanisevic said. "But five, six, seven years ago wewere talking about Federer, only about Federer. Now you have Nadal and him competing who is going to bethe best ever.
"For me Novak is the best ever. He's writing history. He's going to do it in US Open. I strongly believe he's going to do it, he's going to win all four in one year. Then I think story's over."
Though Ivanisevic suggests king of clay Nadal will win at least one more major title, he says the great debate was "over a long time ago" and says the records show Djokovic is the true GOAT.
"For me was over a long time ago. It's just who you like more," Ivanisevic said. "Between these three guys, 60 Grand Slams. It's unreal. Maybe you like Nadal, Federer more, maybe somebody else.
"For me, not because I'm here, before I was member of the team, for me he was the best. I say he's the only guy who can win four in a row in the same year. I don't know. If he wins US Open, I think it's over .But Nadal is going to fight. Nadal is going to come to French next year. He wants to win more. But for me Novak is the biggest ever, he's gonna best, he's biggest. I don't even have to debate about that."
Ivanisevic won't get debate from Djokovic, who concurs with his coach.
"I consider myself best and I believe that I am the best, otherwise I wouldn't be talking confidently about winning slams and making history," Djokovic said. "But whether I'm the greatest of all time or not, I leave that debate to other people. I said before that it's very difficult to compare the eras of tennis. "We have different racquets, technology, balls, courts. It's just completely different conditions that we're playing in, so it's very hard to compare tennis, say, from 50 years ago to today. But I am extremely honored to definitely be part of the conversation."
Photo credit: Goran Ivanisevic Instagram