The former ATP world number 1 Gustavo Kuerten has not included Novak Djokovic in his personal list of the best tennis players of all time.
In a recent interview, the 3-time Roland Garros champion has drawn up his personal top-6, from which he has incredibly excluded the 37-year-old Serb. Kuerten has chosen Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. To these five names he then added that of Rafael Nadal, but not that of the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Kuerter justified his choice by explaining: “Why didn’t I include Djokovic? Because of my origins. My brother grew up with a poster of Borg and I grew up with a poster of McEnroe. Today I can speak and people listen to me thanks to these two players. Sampras was from another galaxy. Agassi was a more provocative guy who went beyond tennis and reached people.”
Novak Djokovic won his third round of Shanghai by a score of 6-1 6-2. 🔥
37 but playing like he’s 27.
The greatest of all time is at the top of his game. pic.twitter.com/FBXrRUJMuo
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) October 8, 2024
But, despite what Kuerten says, Djokovic is rewriting tennis history. Thanks to his 24 Grand Slam titles, the Serb is the most successful tennis player in the history of the Majors and, with his endless supply of records, Nole is indisputably the best ever, at least if you look at records and statistics.
His epic battles with Nadal and Federer and a very long series of records consecrate him as one of the best athletes of all time, if not the best, on a par with other legends of other sports.
Apparently, Novak Djokovic feels good in China 🐉
(📷 @DjokerNole) pic.twitter.com/raP4ni0Xrz
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) October 7, 2024
Novak #Djokovic, the #GOAT, seems like having a great time in China during the National Day holiday! He once joked, “Maybe I was Chinese in past life, I wouldn’t be surprised!” #ATP #TENNIS @DjokerNole @SH_RolexMasters #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/wTD3sZY9Pw
— Record GBA (@RecordGBA) October 7, 2024