Djokovic thinks he can surpass Federer

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yokied said:
For me, Nole doesn't need the slam count to be GOAT. I can accept that the slam count is the simplest and broadest GOAT definition available and this is a minority opinion...

Sure Roger had multiple eras, court speeds and racquet technologies to contend with and has probably the most stylistic and statistical claims to GOAT, but he just could not put other ATGs down and establish himself as first among equals on the biggest stages. That is hard to overcome when considering the history of what is a non-contact version of combat sport.
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But he did put them down at the biggest stages unless they beat his Slam count. It’s really as simple as this. How on earth should Djokovic be the GOAT instead when he doesn’t manage to do it?

And we don’t talk even need to talk about H2H. That’s circular logic anyway, because if Roger isn’t the greatest because of losing too much against Djokovic and Nadal, then how could those 2 be on top only for beating a then not so great player?

It’s about beating full fields and that’s the only valuable factor. If Djokovic and Nadal fail to reach 20 Slams, then they too often failed in H2H matches as well, but against lesser players. So no chance to be GOAT then.
 
I think 4 shame is very doable for Djokovic so that would be 18 slams and if Federer doesn’t win anymore and Nole gets to 18, I don’t think he would want to leave things there.

Nadal is obviously far closer and RG is almost a sure deal for him, so he’s got better chances than Djokovic.
 
Druss said:
The period 2010 and 2017 for Federer can be looked at in two ways:

1) By a Fed hater such as yourself, which you have already stated in your post and no matter what Federer does/achieves (backed up by your moving the goal-posts) will never get through to you
2) Federer actually won 5 slams during that period and was back to No1 on 2 occasions (2012/17)....and all done between the ages of 28.5 to 36 when most ATGs in the past have done near squat in that age bracket.
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He meant RG10 - UO16.

1 slam won out of 27.
 
NoleFam said:
Djokovic needs something to keep him motivated and he needs a goal to strive for. This is basically it. Now I would prefer if he kept this private but being the extrovert he is, that's not really in his personality. He pretty much wears his heart on his sleeve. I have no idea why this would upset anyone though which is strange. Why wouldn't he believe he could do it? What champion of that caliber wouldn't believe they could do it? What should he say? I can only win one more Slam? You always aim for the stars whether you make it there or not.
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Exactly.

He has every right to believe he can do it. His ability also justified his mentality.

If it were Zverev who said it, then yeah, he would be rightfully ridiculed.
 
yokied said:
For me, Nole doesn't need the slam count to be GOAT. I can accept that the slam count is the simplest and broadest GOAT definition available and this is a minority opinion. Of course he needs a bit more but if he aims for the slam count, he could pick up a few more records that Roger simply couldn't manage, eg RG, CYGS, another Nole Slam etc. If he equals Nadal in slam count at 17 and Roger stays at 20, Nole might have achieved enough to satisfy me. I doubt it will play out that way but if so, I would have to give credit where it's due.

Sure Roger had multiple eras, court speeds and racquet technologies to contend with and has probably the most stylistic and statistical claims to GOAT, but he just could not put other ATGs down and establish himself as first among equals on the biggest stages. That is hard to overcome when considering the history of what is a non-contact version of combat sport.

I am a massive Roger fan and will teach my children to play like Roger. I was taught to play like Edberg and Mac, but it doesn't mean I can't acknowledge the superiority of Lendl and Borg.
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Djokovic and Nadal are just younger than him.

Roger's situation is actually unique. What other ATG had to deal with 2 younger 10+ slam champions?

In the long run of course he was going to lose more often since he would be at a disadvantage age wise to his rivals.
 
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Zara said:
And why would Zverev say that? That’s an odd comparison.
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I am saying that Djokovic can say it because he has the pedigree to say it and shooting for the stars is a realistic goal for him.

My comparison was meant to illustrate that it's not like a lesser player has said, so I don't see why Novak's ambition sounds ridiculous.
 
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yokied said:
For me, Nole doesn't need the slam count to be GOAT. I can accept that the slam count is the simplest and broadest GOAT definition available and this is a minority opinion. Of course he needs a bit more but if he aims for the slam count, he could pick up a few more records that Roger simply couldn't manage, eg RG, CYGS, another Nole Slam etc. If he equals Nadal in slam count at 17 and Roger stays at 20, Nole might have achieved enough to satisfy me. I doubt it will play out that way but if so, I would have to give credit where it's due.

Sure Roger had multiple eras, court speeds and racquet technologies to contend with and has probably the most stylistic and statistical claims to GOAT, but he just could not put other ATGs down and establish himself as first among equals on the biggest stages. That is hard to overcome when considering the history of what is a non-contact version of combat sport.

I am a massive Roger fan and will teach my children to play like Roger. I was taught to play like Edberg and Mac, but it doesn't mean I can't acknowledge the superiority of Lendl and Borg.
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Good post.

If Novak ever completes THE Grand Slam in a calender year and finishes with, say, 18 or 19 Slams, for instance, I'd put him ahead of Roger as modern-day "GOAT".

He needs a second French Open and at least 18 Slams, imo. He's only pulled ahead of Roger in the H2H when Roger was 34+ years old.
If Novak doesn't win another Roland Garros, he has to surpass Roger's 20 GS total, for me.
 
I don't think he will achieve that, but there is nothing wrong with setting such high goals. He's already won a lot and played so many finals so it's normal that he wants even more.
 
mike danny said:
I am saying that Djokovic can say it because he has the pedigree to say it and shooting for the stars is a realistic goal him.

My comparison was meant to illustrate that it's not like a lesser player has said, so I don't see why Novak's ambition sounds ridiculous.
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I see. Yea, that makes sense. I agree with someone, I forget who, that mentioned about Nole talking about this stuff at all. I too agree. I think Nadal is more careful about these things.
 
Man, posters here really love to get worked up about silly stuff!

What did you expect him to say? He’s already one of the best and most successful players in the history of the sport. He just returned in pretty dramatic fashion to #1 in the world. Obviously he will aim as high as possible.

I don’t think he can win another 6-7 slams but he may be able to win enough to be a contender for GOAT status. And that doesn’t require 21 slams.
 
GabeT said:
Man, posters here really love to get worked up about silly stuff!

What did you expect him to say? He’s already one of the best and most successful players in the history of the sport. He just returned in pretty dramatic fashion to #1 in the world. Obviously he will aim as high as possible.

I don’t think he can win another 6-7 slams but he may be able to win enough to be a contender for GOAT status. And that doesn’t require 21 slams.
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Agree - more than fair in all aspects.
 
Sport said:
I will be very surprised if Federer doesn't get to 21. I will also be surprised if Nadal doesn't get to 22.

Hopefully, I am the Nostradamus of tennis.:p
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We might need a little help from the Djoker, but thats what friends are for right? :p.

With Djoker back, and Roger still a living target, i think Rafito will have a hard time winning 4 more (even tougher should Roger win another). Big possible obstacles are also injuries, and sooner or later someone new has to step up.
 
Imperator said:
He doesn't think he will surpass him, he thinks he can. Big difference.
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Sport said:
What's the difference? If he doesn't think he will surpass Federer, he thinks he can't. If he thinks he will surpass Federer, he thinks he can.
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He doesn't think he (surely) will surpass Federer, he thinks he can (probably) surpass Federer. That is the difference.
 
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Lew said:
He meant RG10 - UO16.

1 slam won out of 27.
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Why RG10 - USO16? Do you read minds or are you two one and the same person? When one reads 'the period 2010 - 2017', it is interpreted logically as AO10 - USO17, unless of course you want to move goal posts to suit your own agenda.
 
TMF said:
Nole needs to surpass Nadal first before thinking about Federer. I think it's disrespectful to bypass Nadal since he only mention about chasing Federer, as if he knows for sure that he will pass Nadal.
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Again, this is the exact title of the article:

Novak Djokovic makes Roger Federer Grand Slam record admission: ‘I really want it’

Therefore, he is neither chasing Nadal nor Federer. He 'really wants' Grand Slam record, which clearly Roger Federer holds for some years already, hence the discussion in this thread.

I've read it one more time. Djokovic thinks he can surpass the current record. Both Federer and Nadal are mentioned with their respective number of Slams by the author, but Djokovic only speaks about surpassing the record and his own chances of acheiving it.
 
GabeT said:
What’s the point of this whole website? :unsure::unsure:
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In my experience, this website - and perhaps, one or two others of that ilk - are at best tennis-y gossip sites, looking to grab clicks, and with some of the lowest "journalistic" standards.

Often, they come to the top of Google searches and you'll see headlines such as "Federer/Nadal/Djokovic Makes Shocking Claim About Fed/Nadal/Djok". You get the idea - one or the other, or maybe with Serena and Sharapova - the big names...or Murray.

And then the article may contain a quote by one of them saying something completely innocuous like, "I really thought I could have won that match if he didn't hit such great shots."
 
Realistically, of course this would be extremely difficult to achieve, but you have to ask yourself: If "I'm good enough" was your mentality, why would you be spending most of your time on the road, leaving your family behind, getting up at 6am to practice for 8hrs daily, AFTER you've already achieved "good enough"?

Novak has all the $$$ he will ever need for the rest of his life, and if simply "setting himself up for life" was his true goal, he'd be done (I know I would be). To remain hungry enough to continue to put in the work, even though he has achieved success beyond measure for anyone else, you have to have some incredible target in your sights. Surpassing the GOAT is about as high a bar as you can set for yourself, and whether he makes it or not, Djokovic and Federer fans should both be thankful he's making the effort. I hope it motivates both of these players to continue to provide incredible Tennis to us for as long as possible.
 
Druss said:
Why RG10 - USO16? Do you read minds or are you two one and the same person? When one reads 'the period 2010 - 2017', it is interpreted logically as AO10 - USO17, unless of course you want to move goal posts to suit your own agenda.
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He wrote "between" 2010 and 2017.
 
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