The most inspirational fairy tale like sporting achievement - Ivanisevic Wimbledon 2001 or Djokovic Olympics 2024?

What do you think?


  • Total voters
    154

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
Goran and it isn’t particularly close. He came much closer to winning Wimby than Joker did to winning the Olympics prior to the year they won their respective titles. After previously failing on 3 separate occasions (1992, 1994, 1998) he shows up to Wimby ranked #125 as a WC. He also went through a significantly more difficult draw beating players such as Roddick, Rusedski, Safin, Henman, and Rafter. And his reaction after winning was a collective weight removed off his shoulders and tennis fans around the world.
 
Two of the greatest and most inspirational stories told in professional tennis, both with a script to rival anything in Hollywood, involving two of the most beloved tennis icons of the sport.

Goran Ivanisevic - Wimbledon 2001

This journey truly had the most magical ending, he had lost three Wimbledon finals before, the third one in 98 had him breaking down in tears and being inconsolable for a very long time, as he felt he lost his final chance. 2001 comes along, and the charismatic player wasn't even in the top 100, but was given a wildcard in an attempt to bring in more audiences to outside courts for the earlier rounds. Goran went onto to change the script, in what has been considered the single greatest grand slam tournament ever played as a whole, he went through one of the most brutal draws possible for him and ended up winning back to back five set thrillers in the semis and finals....to win the title on the first ever Wimbledon final on Monday. A journey that that began a decade earlier finally ended in the most triumphant way possible.....he went from being the greatest player to never win a slam to Wimbledon champion and forever immortalized in sporting history.

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Novak Djokovic - Olympics 2024

Just like his former coach, Goran, Novak's journey has been nothing short of one the most heroic sagas ever seen in the sport, and across all sports. He left the court in tears back in 2008, unable to make it to the gold medal match, but he kept going for it, more tears and heartbreak followed as for the next three Olympics, he was still unable to fight for the gold medal he so badly wanted. He never hid his feelings and the importance of what winning the Olympics meant for him, making himself vulnerable to the naysayers who were already using it to put a stain on his legacy. 2024, and Djokovic had not win a single title, not a single top ten win, he gets injured in June, throwing his participation into doubt, and then take a massive loss in the W final. Despite all the odds stacked against him, at 37, on his worst surface, he defeats his toughest challenge, makes his first gold medal match and become the first man to not only win the gold without dropping a set, but the first player, male or female to win every big title possible and complete tennis. The ultimate example of the unyielding will of the human spirit, Djokovic ascended to heights never before seen in this sport.

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It’s not close. Ivanisevic by a mile. Djokovic winning was far from a miracle.
 

No_Kwan_Do

Semi-Pro
Of these two, Ivanisevic.

However, it's not the the most inspirational fairy tale sporting achievement. It's not even the most fairy tale-like achievement in Tennis.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
On Djokovic's side is the greater span of time, but on Goran's side is how many times he came so close, while Novak never even played the Gold Medal match. Plus, of course, Novak's many other victories are more than scant consolation.

Poor Goran was basically the Mecir or the Nalbandian or the Berdych, Tsonga, Ferrer, Zverev, etc. of his generation. And then, somehow, with his career basically over - out of the top 100, no title in 3 years, about 1 top 10 win in the past 2... He goes and wins Wimbledon.
Maybe berdych or tsonga in the sense of serving power.. more tsonga. All the other gents had weakish serves but better groundies. Lets not forget goran being no2 twice and beating sampras 6 times. He definitely was always a contender but i think losing bob brett was a big long term problem to his stickability in terms of staying at the top. Also injuries were a problem.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Of these two, Ivanisevic.

However, it's not the the most inspirational fairy tale sporting achievement. It's not even the most fairy tale-like achievement in Tennis.
Are you trying to say that there were only so many potential winners at wimbledon? Maybe but after the r16 there were 6 legitimate contenders which made it quite exciting. The fact goran was able to play well after so long was pretty amazing.

What then is the best story? And was it even on the mens side?
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Maybe berdych or tsonga in the sense of serving power.. more tsonga. All the other gents had weakish serves but better groundies. Lets not forget goran being no2 twice and beating sampras 6 times. He definitely was always a contender but i think losing bob brett was a big long term problem to his stickability in terms of staying at the top. Also injuries were a problem.
Not comparing his game, just in terms of him being a top guy who was a contender at the top level for a long while without winning the big one. He's pretty unique too in terms of the manner of his losses. the two five-setters to Pete and Andre, and then that other one with the two breakers. Berdych and Tsonga never had that kind of success because there were 4 whole guys in front of them.
 

vokazu

Legend
Djokovic OG: the most inspiring and most touching story. How much and how big it meant for him. He's been waiting for so long to get it. It's a very inspiring story. It inspires people to never give up if you want to achieve something no matter how long it will take to get it.

Ivanisevic: felt like lottery. Of course it's like a fairy tale but also felt like luck, because he never win other Slam title and he only got Wimbledon because of wild card instead of playing qualifying rounds.
 

braxeyez

Rookie
I will take Goran’s Wimby. Super thrilled for Novak realizing his lifelong goal but I don’t think OG carries much merit in the list of tennis must haves…and most certainly not in front of a Wimbledon third time lucky pursuit for Goran.
4th time lucky.

And I always have a tear in my eye watching the highlights.
 
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thrust

Legend
You either have to be a Djokovic fan over a tennis fan, put way too much stock into the Olympics, or not have been watching tennis in 2001 to even entertain Djokovic in this discussion.
For Djokovic the OG was an extremely important accomplishment in his career, To finally win at RG, age 37 and beating the guy who destroyed him at Wimbledon was an incredible achievement for him. Having said that, I voted for Goran as it was his last chance to win his only slam after suffering several tough defeats at Wimbledon. I was more of a Rafter fan, but at least Pat had one or two USO titles, so I was happy for Goran.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Not comparing his game, just in terms of him being a top guy who was a contender at the top level for a long while without winning the big one. He's pretty unique too in terms of the manner of his losses. the two five-setters to Pete and Andre, and then that other one with the two breakers. Berdych and Tsonga never had that kind of success because there were 4 whole guys in front of them.
Well you bring it up, and compare how you like but i felt like reflecting on these players and comparing their attributes.

I would separate the players you mention more as well.

1) Mecir - talented and great strategy but a short career due to injury. Relatively few matches played which is a shame as audiences definitely would have liked more from such a stylish and effortless talent. He may have had some chances in the early 90s still. He at least could still tour the world with protoge Kucera.

2) Berdych/ferrer - consistently succesful year after year but lack the full combination of power and mobility, plus some clutchness against top players.

3) Tsonga/nalbandian - can go on great tears and beat the best in a row. Multiple masters (with a yec for nalby) Somehow lack that extra gear or two in majors. Both maybe enjoyed off court too much and david was renamed fat dave for his slightly unwise dieting and discipline.

Zverev still has a chance for sure to get that slam, maybe like a wawrinka or a korda type story. I dont like him or his game much but he is very good all round. Appreciate his comeback from that injury at rg '22.

Goran perhaps is also notable for having the lowest ceiling in that he could lose to guys ranked well below top 100 and even 200, and fairly often over a given season be upset out of nowhere. He could really beat himself. Yes maybe berdych and tsonga had some strange days but goran really showed how mentally off he could be in theatrical style.

He lost to players in 1991, 1997, 2000 * at wimby that really were not serious grasscourt contenders. Also 1993 saw a great escape against chris bailey, which is still hard to see as anything more than a lucky net cord that didnt double fault him out of the event. Chris bailey did well to make a media career as he never really was on prime time much after that missed chance.

_________

*1996 stoltenberg already made the semi final and maybe if he had washington or martin could have made the final. Krajicek was truly monstrous in r16 onwards so no shame there for the aussie.
 
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vive le beau jeu !

Talk Tennis Guru
noles whole life. with nato bombing, training in the empty pool. discovered by the legend. parents who borrow from money sharks to afford him to play. always in shadows to 2 establishments darlings. always play in front of hostage audience. coming close to fulfilled his dreams but was ready to offer his whole career for principals. imprisoned, deported, banned and actually win it all and become the golden GOAT with some margin. taking the last peace after 16 years chase on his last shot.
let's not forget the O2 pyramids and the water purified by thoughts... a true SF blockbuster.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Djokovic OG: the most inspiring and most touching story. How much and how big it meant for him. He's been waiting for so long to get it. It's a very inspiring story. It inspires people to never give up if you want to achieve something no matter how long it will take to get it.

Ivanisevic: felt like lottery. Of course it's like a fairy tale but also felt like luck, because he never win other Slam title and he only got Wimbledon because of wild card instead of playing qualifying rounds.

Lets look at novaks draw at olympics.. nothing too special apart from carlos. The london olympics was harder with murray and delpotro and he left with no medal. So yes the draw was a luckier one.
No best of 5 sets final. No real pressure on the knee.

Ill remind you of gorans 2 bronze medals on clay. He wasnt some fluke no2 in the world or fluke top tenner.. why? Because the prior sentence has oxymorons. You make it sound like wimbledon had quite a few random champions because they only won once. Next we can only have 3 atgs and borg and sampras were average.
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The ivanisevic wildcard decision respected that goran had made 3 finals and was still working hard. He even trained with some young kid from serbia called novak.. not a bad plan?
The committee may have heard how he failed in ao qualifying and they knew he would potentially do better if he just had a good opening match. So why rail against a sensible decision?
 

vokazu

Legend
Lets look at novaks draw at olympics.. nothing too special apart from carlos. The london olympics was harder with murray and delpotro and he left with no medal. So yes the draw was a luckier one.
No best of 5 sets final. No real pressure on the knee.

Ill remind you of gorans 2 bronze medals on clay. He wasnt some fluke no2 in the world or fluke top tenner.. why? Because the prior sentence has oxymorons. You make it sound like wimbledon had quite a few random champions because they only won once. Next we can only have 3 atgs and borg and sampras were average.
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The ivanisevic wildcard decision respected that goran had made 3 finals and was still working hard. He even trained with some young kid from serbia called novak.. not a bad plan?
The committee may have heard how he failed in ao qualifying and they knew he would potentially do better if he just had a good opening match. So why rail against a sensible decision?

Weak draw, strong draw, weak era, strong era, they are all just EXCUSES. You play who's in front of you.

Wild card is like a lottery card.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
For Djokovic the OG was an extremely important accomplishment in his career, To finally win at RG, age 37 and beating the guy who destroyed him at Wimbledon was an incredible achievement for him. Having said that, I voted for Goran as it was his last chance to win his only slam after suffering several tough defeats at Wimbledon. I was more of a Rafter fan, but at least Pat had one or two USO titles, so I was happy for Goran.
I do think alcaraz almost peaked too soon against novak both on clay (madrid >> rg) last year and again this year at wimbledon>> olympics. As in he was so convincing he couldnt help but think he would be alright and then the urgency was gone. Or maybe not.

But novak really annoys me with his rg withdrawal ... drawn out knees issues.. then super come back..then to 'rg' to finish the event... and then to be pretty ordinary the rest of year and to skip every other event. I cannot imitate someone who is his biggest cheerleader, nor most others that know nole, in my social movements. But he is a tennis legend in all senses i have to concede.

Rafter didnt play great at most of wimbledon 2001
His form at both ao and uso 2001 was better but he had bad luck in different ways to exit those events. He also didnt return gorans serve well when it mattered most, especially the first serve. He did play beautiful serve and volley for 2 weeks but lacked that affinity for grass that mcenroe and edberg had. Given all that its even more cruel how he was just 2 pointd away from any aussie's most coveted tennis trophy.
 
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Galvermegs

Professional
Weak draw, strong draw, weak era, strong era, they are all just EXCUSES. You play who's in front of you.

Wild card is like a lottery card.
It was also a lottery they trained together and one coached the other for years.

My point is that novak should have beaten back to back heavyweights in other years and finally the luck changed. So no excuse for him being unlucky before, or denial he was lucky this time. I dont go on about eras but he only impressed me in the gold medal match and even then alcaraz was very much pushing him.

Pat cash did well with a wild card.
Jelena dokic did well once at another slam.
Mark phillopousis won a few matches too.

You dont want talented players in the draw but no name qualifiers? Ill pass your thoughts to the itf in time for the off season.
 

vokazu

Legend
It was also a lottery they trained together and one coached the other for years.

My point is that novak should have beaten back to back heavyweights in other years and finally the luck changed. So no excuse for him being unlucky before, or denial he was lucky this time. I dont go on about eras but he only impressed me in the gold medal match and even then alcaraz was very much pushing him.

Pat cash did well with a wild card.
Jelena dokic did well once at another slam.
Mark phillopousis won a few matches too.

You dont want talented players in the draw but no name qualifiers? Ill pass your thoughts to the itf in time for the off season.
I mean, Leo BORG as wildcard... That's just ridiculous.
 

Bastion

Semi-Pro
Ivan's Wimby title was great, even more so when he became the Goat's coach, but......

37 year old goat beating a peak 21 year old next gen goat in two epic sets of the highest tennis level ever in Olympic match
getting the final big goat record to complete tennis since its beginning and for the future
playing with only one knee to win the Gold
ceremonially finally ending the goat debate (for the last 3 people on earth still thinking it was a debate... fed, rafa and uncle tony... all of them knew it was all over after the Olympic final this year)
winning gold on his least favorite surface against the RG champ

Only one legend bigger than him in any sport or all of life:

 

Galvermegs

Professional
Ivan's Wimby title was great, even more so when he became the Goat's coach, but......

37 year old goat beating a peak 21 year old next gen goat in two epic sets of the highest tennis level ever in Olympic match
getting the final big goat record to complete tennis since its beginning and for the future
playing with only one knee to win the Gold
ceremonially finally ending the goat debate (for the last 3 people on earth still thinking it was a debate... fed, rafa and uncle tony... all of them knew it was all over after the Olympic final this year)
winning gold on his least favorite surface against the RG champ

Only one legend bigger than him in any sport or all of life:

How do you know alcaraz likes clay more than hardcourt or grass? I would say its too soon to tell. Currently novak has many semis finals and 3 actual rg titles. He had all the experience to draw on plus of course not playing more than 4 matches at rg 24 this year helped with him being fresh.

I agree he played well but alcaraz definitely flubbed the big points. 2 things going on and novak was also a favorite for at least bronze coming into the event.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Not minimizing Novak winning his elusive title at age 37, playing through an injury to produce great, clutch tennis against a more-than-worthy finalist, Goran by a healthy margin.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Not minimizing Novak winning his elusive title at age 37, playing through an injury to produce great, clutch tennis against a more-than-worthy finalist, Goran by a healthy margin.
It will always be debatable how severe noles injury was. Goran definitely needed pain killers on court and probably wouldnt have suffered in that final were it so much his biggest match. Nole is too boy who cried wolf as well but i respect his 2024 form was worse for more reasons than growing some extra grey hairs like father srdjan.
 

mtommer

Hall of Fame
Ivan - easily.

Everybody wants to win Wimbledon. Many care less with regards to the Olympics. It's like saying a 500 event meant eevvvveerrryyyythhhingggg to Djokovic, and well I don't care in the least and neither do many others. *shrug*
 

FlyingSaucer

Semi-Pro
Goran by a mile.

Can't remember if I've already posted in this thread, but I was at Queen's that year and watched Ivanisevic lose in straights to Caratti in the first round. Not sure he'd even made a QF all year until Wimbledon. Eternally grateful to Fed for taking down Pete.
 

fedfan24

Hall of Fame
Zverev facing either alcaraz or nole would have made for a better event altogether... and it supports my theory that losing early at rg means more chance of a gold.
(Also cf swiatek in 2024)
It’s always a shame when a better player loses in a random match and then we get deprived of better matchups. Same thing happened in W11, Federer Djokovic semi would’ve been epic that year.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
Yea you gotta give this one to Goran. He always dreamt of winning a Wimbledon title, and failed right at the finish line several times. Then at the lowest point of his career he wins the tournament as a wildcard and 100 something in the world. And it was his first major title on top of that.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
It’s always a shame when a better player loses in a random match and then we get deprived of better matchups. Same thing happened in W11, Federer Djokovic semi would’ve been epic that year.
Well you got it the next year and federer losing to tsonga showed he was definitely never going to dominate again like before. Also stakhovsky was random.. tsonga could beat anyone on his day.
 

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Wimbledon happens every year, but the Olympics is every four years. So, there was a last chance aspect to Djokovic’s efforts to win a gold at his age that made his victory sentimental even for tennis fans who are not particularly fans of him. Also the fact that there has been pictures of him crying after every Olympic loss in the past made it more poignant when he won.

Ivanisevic’s win was a solid journeyman player realizing his 1-Slam lifelong goal. Djokovic‘s gold was the GOAT of tennis realizing the one goal that eluded him and completing a perfect career track record.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Wimbledon happens every year, but the Olympics is every four years. So, there was a last chance aspect to Djokovic’s efforts to win a gold at his age that made his victory sentimental even for tennis fans who are not particularly fans of him. Also the fact that there has been pictures of him crying after every Olympic loss in the past made it more poignant when he won.

Ivanisevic’s win was a solid journeyman player realizing his 1-Slam lifelong goal. Djokovic‘s gold was the GOAT of tennis realizing the one goal that eluded him and completing a perfect career track record.
Let's also get something clear. The apparant goat pre federer .. sampras didnt care about the olympics. Our pal goran did. He got a bronze in singles and doubles at the same event. 2 medals in one event is commendable. Novak when he had a chance for gold in tokoyo turned down his mixed doubles partner.
That alone makes noles win in paris meaningless to me. I didnt watch the whole match when its just more self centred nole antics with another worrying injury

Goran had a legit injury.

He cant have been a journeyman if he got to no2 and made 4 major finals. Yes some lowly players make a single major final, but not 2 or more.

Your logic is to be number 1 for 50 weeks or more and to win 60 titles or more? Or journeyman and fluke slam winner someone is basically more than likely to be

What are all the pros who made the top 100 but were never close to the top 20? Glorified amateurs?

Your lack of understanding of 90s tennis (less control over racquets, more upsets, polarised surfaces) is very clear.

I doubt goran wanted just one major. He was injured very badly by his late 20s and could have given up. Sports science was worse too (another reason i dont eat out of the big3s hand palm)
Sampras, agassi, courier all ensured he had less chances to win. But he was never happy being 2nd bes

A player more celebrated on here, par rafter, had actually a worse final win ratio in his career.

Both participants in the 2001 wimbledon final werent keen on runner up plates. But someone has to lose more often.
Even lendl lost more major finals than he won. But i respect him more than nole as he didnt cry wolf or nearly decapitate onlookers.
**.

P.s. no perfect career track record exists for anyone.

Novak has retired mid match in majors more than any other atg.. some record there.

Novak failed to defend his first slam.. as he retired.

Federer and nadal did defend their first slam.. multiple times over
I will be fair and say murray and stan didnt defend their various majors on any of the 3 occasions.
 
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Mustard

Bionic Poster
Ivanisevic’s win was a solid journeyman player realizing his 1-Slam lifelong goal.
Do you know what a journeyman player is? It's not a player who has been world number 2 in different years like Goran Ivanisevic, who has beaten Pete Sampras over best of 5 sets on grass and also beaten Thomas Muster over best of 5 sets on clay.

I'd class a journeyman as a player who has never been in the top 100 or top 50, or top 30 at most.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Do you know what a journeyman player is? It's not a player who has been world number 2 in different years like Goran Ivanisevic, who has beaten Pete Sampras over best of 5 sets on grass and also beaten Thomas Muster over best of 5 sets on clay.

I'd class a journeyman as a player who has never been in the top 100 or top 50, or top 30 at most.
Spot on. Im still grumbling over rising cafe prices. Too late to undo my decision earlier today. Noles fans can always make me reconsider my stance on the legend..maybe.
 

FedForGOAT

Professional
Ivanisevic. I’m honestly surprised that this is even a question.
Firstly, Djokovic has such a packed résumé, there is barely anything to dream about. So yes, he got one more big title that he didn’t have, but that’s hardly a fairytale.
Secondly, saying “nobody cares much about the Olympics in Tennis”, is an overstatement, but not by that much. Winning Wimbledon, or any grand slam title, for that matter, is a much bigger deal.

Let me put it this way: I can imagine Hollywood making a movie based on Ivanisevic’s story. While I can easily imagine a movie about Novak, it won’t be about him winning the Olympics.

@Hitman are you getting bored? You’re normally a very balanced poster, but it seems Djokovic’s impending retirement has caused you to go over the top sentimental.
 

Galvermegs

Professional
Ivanisevic. I’m honestly surprised that this is even a question.
Firstly, Djokovic has such a packed résumé, there is barely anything to dream about. So yes, he got one more big title that he didn’t have, but that’s hardly a fairytale.
Secondly, saying “nobody cares much about the Olympics in Tennis”, is an overstatement, but not by that much. Winning Wimbledon, or any grand slam title, for that matter, is a much bigger deal.

Let me put it this way: I can imagine Hollywood making a movie based on Ivanisevic’s story. While I can easily imagine a movie about Novak, it won’t be about him winning the Olympics.

@Hitman are you getting bored? You’re normally a very balanced poster, but it seems Djokovic’s impending retirement has caused you to go over the top sentimental.
Wimbledon (2004) has some interesting undertones that do echo ivanisevic's story. Even the main character's overgrip is the same colour.

Also the bbc did a trailer where the producer of the film (sadly disgraced now) asks mcenroe questions. It was a trailer for the actual event that year but still mentioned (both agassi and) ivanisevic.
 
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