Ivanisevic: "Roger Federer is no longer a threat to records"

Novak Djokovic clinched his 20th Grand Slam title just over a week ago at Wimbledon, a triumph that has reignited the GOAT debate for the umpteenth time. By winning eight of the last 12 Majors, the world number 1 has in fact equaled his eternal rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a very short amount of time.

The 34-years-old Serbian has made no secret of wanting to hold the Calendar Golden Slam, having decided to travel to Tokyo to also compete in the Olympics. The Belgrade veteran will then take a few weeks off before the US Open, where he will go hunting for his fourth seal in the Big Apple.

Also taking advantage of Roger and Rafa's current difficulties, Nole has the opportunity to complete a truly epic feat. His coach Goran Ivanisevic, who was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, believes Djokovic has all it takes to continue winning over the next few years. The former Croatian champion also expressed his point of view on Federer and Nadal.

Ivanisevic takes stock of Roger, Rafa and Novak

"I think men's tennis is having a great time. Obviously there is Roger Federer who is slowly leaving the scene. I do not see him able to return to the top of the ranking. I believe that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be competing for records and everything else," said Ivanisevic.

There was no shortage of praise for the members of the Next Gen: “There are many guys who in the next five or six years can aspire to the throne, perhaps winning several Grand Slams. Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov have already shown considerable potential, without forgetting the ranks of Italians led by Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Musetti and Jannik Sinner.

We will see big changes in the ranking after the Big 3 have retired. I don't know when they'll hang up the racquet, but from then on we will have several different Grand Slam winners. I do not exclude that we can return to see four different Grand Slam champions in the same year."

With 30 finals played and 20 triumphs in Grand Slam trials, he is the most successful player in Grand Slam history, tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, having won nine Australian Open (absolute record), six Wimbledon, three US Open and two Roland Garros. Together with Rod Laver he is the only player of the Open era to have simultaneously held the title of all four Grand Slam events and the only one to do so on three different surfaces. With the triumph at Roland Garros 2021 he became the first ever tennis player, in the Open era, to have won all majors at least twice and the third overall after Roy Emerson and Rod Laver.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3i5Qwmh