‘Numbers don’t lie’: Agassi anoints Djokovic the GOAT, says only injury can derail his run to 11th Australian Open title

Former tennis great Andre Agassi has declared Novak Djokovic the greatest of all time as he faces the task of winning a record 11th Australian Open title.

TOPSHOT - This handout picture released by Tennis Australia on January 30, 2023, shows Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the 2023 Australian Open men's singles final trophy at the locker room in Melbourne. (Photo by FIONA HAMILTON / TENNIS AUSTRALIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / TENNIS AUSTRALIA / FIONA HAMILTON " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Numbers don’t lie.

Novak Djokovic is the GOAT.

That is according to one of the few men in the history of professional tennis who can appreciate the level at which the 36-year-old Serbian continues to perform.

Four-time Australian Open champion Andre Agassi says you “just can’t argue” with the sheer weight of Djokovic’s achievements.

Only three men can claim to have won more titles at Melbourne Park than Agassi: Roger Federer (six), Roy Emerson (six) and Djokovic … with 10.

By the end of this month it could be 11. In doing so, he would move ahead of Margaret Court and stand alone with a historic 25 Grand Slam titles – the most in history, male or female.

Novak Djokovic with last year’s Australian Open trophy. Picture: Fiona Hamilton/Tennis Australia/AFP

“Novak has won more Australian Opens than I’ve won Slams for crying out loud … what do you do but laugh? I don’t know what to say to that,” said Agassi, whose eight major titles has him entrenched as one of the best to ever hold a racquet.

“These are different numbers. It’s like talking about Rafa in Paris, right? I don’t understand it.

“There’s so many ways to look at it, but when you look at it on paper you just can’t argue with what he’s accomplished. The amount that he’s won, the head-to-heads, the Masters (titles), the year-end No.1s, the weeks at No.1 … all those stats.”

Like ‘Rafa in Paris’, Djokovic has found himself a home away from home. Melbourne Park has been the scene for the world No.1’s greatest moments.

It is unlikely his record 10 and counting Australian Open titles is ever broken.

But Agassi feels there need to be more to the GOAT debate than just numbers.

In fact, if he had it his way there would not be a debate at all.

He says the trio of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal deserve to be spoken of in equal reverence for what they have achieved on a tennis court.

Agassi hopes Nadal gets back to his best. Picture: AFP

“You also have to look at what each have brought to the game and maybe not separate them in that aspect,” Agassi said.

“I’m such a traditionalist for the game itself … when I look at what people bring to the sport, he (Djokovic) has brought so much, unquestionably.

“But then you look at what Roger has brought to the sport: the elegance and the class and the way that he did it.

“And then Nadal, the intensity or the ballistic nature in the way he engaged with the game – all of these guys have broadened (tennis).

“When it comes to on paper I don’t think you can argue against what Novak has done. Hopefully Nadal will stay healthy and have a chance to be at his best again, because that would be a win for everybody.”

Health might be the only stumbling block for Djokovic on his road to an 11th title at Melbourne Park.

The super Serbian has been battling a wrist injury that became a serious talking point after his straight-sets defeat to Aussie Alex de Minaur in the United Cup earlier this month.

Agassi believes a healthy Djokovic is unquestionably the odds-on favourite to go all the way – but there are a trio of top talents ready to take advantage of any lapses.

Daniil Medvedev is one of Agassi’s current favourites. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

“It sounds like at the moment only Novak can challenge Novak,” Agassi said.

“The wrist is an important part of a tennis swing, I assure you, so you can’t hide if you’re feeling pain anticipating hitting a ball. It will be a big disadvantage if that’s not in good form for him, but if it is then you have to favour him for sure.

“He’s proven that for way too long now and there’s nothing to suggest it’s going to be any different this time.

“Then you have to look at (Carlos) Alcaraz, who by the way is a gift to tennis as well.

“To have someone capture the imagination of the sporting public like Alcaraz has is really special, so I have to have him as the second favourite.

“Then I guess you start looking at (Daniil) Medvedev and (Jannick) Sinner. But the difference is you have somebody already holding a trophy, versus somebody trying to, so that’s why I would probably lean to Medvedev as the third favourite, but Sinner has a game that can answer anybody on his day.”

Agassi is back in Melbourne for the first time since 2018. He is here on behalf of Uber, spreading the word of the rideshare service’s member-only offer.

From June 14-28, Uber One members travelling to or from Rod Laver Arena will have the opportunity to ride for free, subject to terms and conditions.

Andre Agassi is back in Melbourne for the first time since 2018. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Agassi said he was thrilled to be back Down Under, where he played some of the best tennis of his illustrious career.

“I always loved it (here),” he said.

“From a fan perspective and a connection perspective, for me the fans here in Melbourne are all about sport.

“It didn’t matter what day I was having. If I woke up on the wrong side of the bed … I felt when I walked under that name, ‘Rod Laver’, I was going in as a warrior. That always helped me connect to the physicality and the work and helped me get out of my own way, let’s put it that way.”

Originally published as ‘Numbers don’t lie’: Agassi anoints Djokovic the GOAT, says only injury can derail his run to 11th Australian Open title