By any measure, Novak doesn’t qualify as greatest of all time

TO be the GOAT, you have to do more than just win matches.

There is another side to it, the inspiring part, winning hearts, being a pioneer for people, making the world better by offering something extra other than just being able to hit a ball over a net more successfully than others.

If you just want to go on tennis stats alone, then it still doesn’t favour Novak Djokovic. If he wins on Sunday night, he still only draws level with Rafael Nadal who, despite his injury setback at Melbourne Park, is planning on fronting up to Roland

Garros where he wins with one hand tied behind his back.

Whatever you think of Margaret Court, she has won 24 singles grand slams and in total 64 if you throw in doubles and mixed doubles.

Serena Williams still has more grand slams with 23, Steffi Graf has 22 with the add on of being the only player to win each major at least four times and complete the Golden Slam (Grand Slam plus Olympic gold).

Then there is “Rocket” Rod Laver who is the only person to complete the calendar year Grand Slam twice. Djokovic has never done it once.

He hasn’t won the Australian Open most times (Court), he hasn’t won the most French titles (Nadal) or Wimbledon (Federer) while there are only three US Opens on his CV.

So, what has Djokovic done for the game off the court? Hmmm. We’re sure there is some charity work somewhere but what first comes to mind is the selfish, embarrassing Covid party he had at the height of the pandemic which further spread the disease.

Then there is the Australian visa debacle because of his anti-vax stance.

That’s a personal choice which he is clearly allowed to have but trying to get into a country that had strict rules against it via a loophole was thoughtless, calculating and simply selfish. When talking about GOAT status, the numbers should never be the deciding factor. Look at Muhammad Ali; regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and was described as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

Did he have the best fighting record of all time? No, but for all the other factors which go into being the GOAT, he had them and some.

Djokovic doesn’t.