These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time. But I think if he can go out as a 38, 39-year-old and win more Slams, and beat Alcaraz and Sinner in big matches, he’s got a claim to be the best athlete of all time. I think that’s exciting for me and his team, to be part of that. It’s about trying to find that motivation to keep going and pushing for more.”

Djokovic is widely and rightly considered the men’s tennis GOAT based on his superior record — the most Grand Slam titles (24), the most Masters 1000 titles (40), the most ATP Finals titles (7), and an Olympic gold medal. In 2016, I wrote an essay titled “Who Are the Greatest Athletes of All Time?” This essay appears in my recent book, “GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis.” At that time, I ranked Roger Federer No. 3.

 

Murray makes a strong — albeit now hypothetical — case because if 37-year-old Djokovic can win more major titles in the new Big Two era of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at his advanced age (or any age), his claim as the Sports GOAT would become stronger than ever. And certainly stronger than Federer’s claim was back in 2016. Of course, Lebron James’ claim — I rated him No. 6 then — would also be much stronger.

 

Here’s an analogy from women’s tennis. What if, in the late 1980s, either Martina Navratilova or Chris Evert, instead of declining, had kept defeating Steffi Graf and Monica Seles and won more and more Grand Slam titles and perhaps an Olympic gold medal? These ageless legends would, in this hypothetical scenario, conquer the New Gen superstars in their early primes, just what Djokovic aspires to do in 2025 and perhaps beyond.

 

This season could prove even more fascinating if Djokovic continues his age-defying career at a very high level. With Murray’s brainy advice, his odds increase.

 

Paul Fein — Jan. 15, 2025