Russian tennis legend Yevgeny Kafelnikov says there isn’t any doubt that Novak Djokovic is the best of all time in tennis however the former two-time Grand Slam champion additionally provides that he has huge considerations over the Serb’s motivation going ahead just because he has now achieved the whole lot potential.
After surpassing Rafael Nadal on the all-time Grand Slam listing final 12 months and turning into the primary man with 24 Majors and likewise the first-ever tennis participant with 400 weeks on the world No. 1 spot, Djokovic now additionally has an Olympic gold medal.
Statistically, Djokovic has achieved greater than his two greatest rivals – Nadal and Roger Federer. And whereas some have been saying for a 12 months now that the GOAT debate is sealed and positively gained by Djokovic, the Serb’s accomplishments have led to some questioning if he’s in rivalry for the best athlete of all time.
Requested about it, former world No. 1 and 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist Kafelnikov says Djokovic is “positively” within the top-3 of all-time athletes.
“There isn’t a query whether or not Novak is the best of all time in tennis, that’s for positive. Whether or not you possibly can put him on the identical degree as Michael Jordan… I don’t, as a result of I grew up idolizing the best athlete of all time, which is Michael Jordan – all I wished was to look at him play reside. To me, he’s at all times No. 1, however Novak is unquestionably among the many high three best athletes of all time, undoubtedly – all of the accomplishments, data that he has damaged, titles he has gained…” Kafelnikov instructed Tennis Majors.
Kafelnikov’s fears for Djokovic
After struggling some of the heartbreaking and devastating defeats of his profession within the Tokyo Olympics semifinal to Alexander Zverev, Djokovic vowed to get again stronger on the 2024 Paris Olympics. And after Tokyo, Djokovic spoke quite a few occasions about how necessary was for him to get an Olympic gold medal and full his resume.
Now that Djokovic has the whole lot he ever wished and mainly has nothing else to show, Kafelnikov fears it might be inconceivable for the Serb to encourage himself. However even when that occurs, the 50-year-old Russian underlines that Djokovic has deserved to proceed enjoying for pure pleasure if he desires to and no one can criticize him for that.
“Novak stayed motivated as a result of he wished to win the gold medal. Proper now, it’s going to be laborious to search out the motivation. He doesn’t have to show to anyone that he’s higher than Federer and Nadal, that’s for positive. What subsequent? I do not know. If he desires to proceed enjoying for the pure pleasure of enjoying, honest sufficient, no one will criticize him for that. Once more, he has achieved the whole lot, I don’t know the way he can discover the motivation to go additional than he already has. That’s how I see it.” Kafelnikov defined.
Kafelnikov: Djokovic would have regretted all his life…
Earlier than Djokovic took to the courtroom to face Carlos Alcaraz within the Paris Olympics ultimate, Kafelnikov wrote on X that it was an important match of the Serb’s profession. Contemplating that Djokovic beforehand had been in 37 Grand Slam finals, some discovered that declare as daring.
However Kafelnikov believes his assertion was totally in place as he is aware of what Djokovic has been saying for years – and provides that had the Serb misplaced – he would have had regrets over that his complete life. Additionally, the Russian tennis legend talked about how some began saying solely after the ultimate that turning into an Olympic champion was “mandatory” for Djokovic.
“I’ve stated it earlier than – Olympic gold is as necessary as a Grand Slam title. I tweeted the day earlier than the match that this ultimate was an important match of Novak Djokovic’s profession. I used to be completely positive about it. If Novak had misplaced on Sunday, he would have regretted all of it his life. He gained and proved my feedback true afterwards. To be trustworthy, it’s so humorous seeing Novak’s followers on social media now – earlier than, they have been saying the Olympics weren’t necessary, however now they discover it necessary, saying that it was mandatory for him to win it,” Kafelnikov stated.
In the meantime, Djokovic did not wish to communicate or take into consideration his future after the Paris Olympics. When requested about his future plans and hopes, Djokovic stated: “I don’t know. To be trustworthy, most likely for the primary time in my profession I do not wish to make plans or speak about what’s subsequent as a result of I labored for this medal so laborious, for thus a few years.”