Images of Novak Djokovic projected on Belgrade City Hall with the text "the best player of all time" on March 8, 2021. -

AFP

The endless and completely subjective debate on the name of the greatest tennis player of all time, is likely to resume with a vengeance between lovers of the yellow ball.

Novak Djokovic has indeed become the holder of a new record: that of the number of weeks spent in place of world No. 1.

At 33, the Serbian officially began his 311th week at the top of the world tennis hierarchy on Monday, overtaking Roger Federer by one week.

So who is the tallest?

To this question Djokovic kicks (half) in touch.

“I don't mean to say I'm the tallest because I don't think it's possible to compare between generations.

But I am very proud to be in "conversation" with all the great tennis players, with all the legends of our sport ", commented in French the player on France 3. And Federer's supporters can still highlight the figures of their champion.

The Swiss clearly maintains the record for the number of consecutive weeks spent on the world throne: 237, against 122 for Djokovic who, in this statistical category, is also still behind the American Jimmy Connors (160) and the Czechoslovakian Ivan Lendl (157) .

On the other hand, contrary to the adage, Djokovic is indeed a prophet in his country.

In Serbia the debate is now closed: "the best player of all time" could be read Monday evening on the facade of the Town Hall in Belgrade.

Djokovic's record also made headlines in Serbian media which unanimously hailed the feat, with state television RTS opening its evening news with a brief interview with him.

"I am immensely happy and proud of this success which is also the success of the whole nation", he declared.

“The two main goals in tennis are, without doubt, the number of Grand Slams won and the number of weeks spent in number 1. I have the honor of having achieved one of the two, I will now devote myself to second, ”he insisted.

This record is currently held by Federer and Rafael Nadal with twenty major trophies each.

Djokovic is 18 after his ninth title in February at the Australian Open.

A problem named Nadal

“I try to organize my program to be successful in Grand Slam and particularly at Roland Garros.

But we have a big problem called Rafael Nadal!

», Clarified the Serb on France 3, bursting out laughing.

Because beating the Spaniard on Parisian clay "is perhaps the biggest challenge we have in tennis in general," said Djokovic who suffered Rafa's law last October in the final of the French Major, unable to prevent his opponent from winning his 13th Parisian title.

Supporters of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic be happy: the challenges and the competition continue.

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