Djokovic: Calling me 'GOAT' will be disrespectful to former champions

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic refused to declare himself the greatest of all time because he feels that would be "disrespectful" toward his competition and past champions. On Sunday, Djokovic ousted Casper Ruud to win a record 23rd Grand Slam title.

Rafael Nadal is now the second all-time with 22 Grand Slams, while Roger Federer finished his career with 20 Majors. Moments after Djokovic set a new all-time Grand Slam record in the men's game, he started being labeled "the GOAT." "I don't want to say that I am the greatest, because I feel it's disrespectful towards all the great champions in different eras of our sport that was played in completely different way than it is played today.

So I leave those kind of discussions of who is the greatest to someone else. I have of course huge faith and confidence and belief in myself and for everything that I am and who I am and what I am capable of doing," Djokovic said.

Djokovic has now each of the three Grand Slams he participated in. After winning 2022 Wimbledon, Djokovic wasn't allowed to compete at the US Open due to his vaccination stance.

At the start of the 2023 season, Djokovic won it all at the Australian Open and French Open. Now, Djokovic has set his eyes on defending his Wimbledon crown and lifting his eighth titles at The All England Club. "Of course the journey is still not over.

I feel if I'm winning Slams, why even think about ending the career that already has been going on for 20 years. So I still feel motivated, I still feel inspired to play the best tennis in these tournaments. Those are the ones that count I guess the most in history of our sport. I now look forward to Wimbledon," Djokovic said.