Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker reckons Novak Djokovic wants to become the best player in history. The GOAT debate in Tennis always involves the Big Three as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have ruled the roost in the last two decades.
Djokovic, on Sunday, won his 10th Australian Open title after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to clinch his 22nd Grand Slam title. With this win, Djokovic equaled Rafael Nadal’s tally of most Majors in Men’s tennis.
Djokovic, 35, is still fit as a fiddle and went on to win the Australian Open despite injury woes in the first week of the tournament. The Serb is hungrier than ever to prove his mettle and he will look to continue the good show. Djokovic has won a total of 94 ATP titles in his glittering career.
Speaking on Eurosport Germany’s podcast ‘Das Gelbe vom Ball’, Becker said: “Novak is 35 years old and he knows at 40 he won’t manage this performance. I think it will be a hell of a ride after the Australian Open.
“It will be a completely different act and a completely different burden in Paris and Wimbledon. Success is his life’s dream, he wants to become the most successful player in history.
“Even as a child he said ‘I’m going to be the best’ and he was right. And now he is at the limit.” Despite Djokovic’s win, the dominance of the sport’s big three is slowly coming to an end – especially after the retirement of Federer late last year.
Becker feels tennis is going through a generational change with Roger Federer retired and Nadal also in the twilight of his career. The Spaniard is struggling with injuries and thus Becker is not sure of Nadal’s future after the conclusion of Roland Garros.
He went on: “We are seeing the generational change at the moment. Roger Federer is already gone, Rafael Nadal is one step away for me.
“He will play Paris, after that, I see a question mark. Novak Djokovic will definitely go through this season, but if he makes 23 [Grand Slams] and turns 36 next year, then it’s a question of time. The generational change is happening now.”
