Djokovic on the GOAT debate: "I am not comfortable talking about myself, but I consider myself a great connoisseur of the game"

Adrien Guyot

le 12/11/2025 à 08h14

2 min to read

Becker Borg Djokovic Federer Laver McEnroe Nadal

Djokovic discussed the "GOAT" in an interview with Piers Morgan. According to the former world number 1, having this debate is very complicated as it is impossible to compare generations.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have marked the history of tennis during the famous Big 3 era that dominated tennis for twenty years. The Serb, winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, is also the last player from this exceptional generation still active.

For many years, the "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) debate has been raging. In an interview released in recent hours, journalist Piers Morgan asked him if he considered himself the best player in history.

"I have been asked this question repeatedly, especially in recent years. There are many statistics and comparisons between Nadal, Federer, and myself, particularly due to the numbers: the number of Grand Slams won, the number of titles, the weeks spent at world number one, etc. My answer is the same when talking generally about the greatest player of all time.

I will not say whether I am the greatest player of all time or not, it is not for me to say. I would say it is disrespectful to the generations that paved the way for me, Nadal, Federer, and others. It is so difficult to compare different eras.

Our sport has undergone a total transformation over the last 50 years, whether in terms of technology, equipment, balls, surfaces, staff members accompanying players... Everything has become so much more professional. That doesn't mean it wasn't professional 30 or 40 years ago.

Sports science has improved, people have more and more information. That's why players are more and more careful and interested in everything that is necessary in all aspects of life, how you can have a greater percentage of improvement, what allows you to perform better, recover better, etc.

Players like Borg, Laver, McEnroe... I appreciate you talking to me about this subject, but I have never felt comfortable talking about myself and considering myself the greatest in history. I consider myself a great connoisseur of the game.

I respect the history and all the legends of this sport. Some of them have coached me, like Boris Becker, whom I consider a member of my family. I feel more comfortable leaving this debate to others, but I am of course honored to be part of this discussion," assured Djokovic.