Rennae Stubbs’ ‘obsessive’ Novak comments spark online storm

Aussie four-time grand slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs has copped a lashing online over her comments on Novak Djokovic.

Rennae Stubbs infuriates Djoker fans

Australian tennis champion turned commentator and coach Rennae Stubbs has sparked an online storm with her comments around Novak Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of titles.

Djokovic pulled level with Margaret Court with the most grand slams of all-time in his US Open triumph, tallying his 24th major.

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It puts him two grand slams ahead of Rafael Nadal and four ahead of Roger Federer and for most people, it would make them the undisputed GOAT of the sport, particularly when he tallied many of those wins in the Big Three era.

But for Djokovic, the debate still appears to remain whether he is in fact the greatest tennis player of all-time.

Sure, he has the numbers — the most grand slams, the second most matches won (although he’s eight wins behind Federer’s tally of 361), second most matches played (again behind Federer — 429 to 409), the second best winning record at 88.3 per cent (behind Bjorn Borg at 89.2 per cent).

He has a non-calendar year Grand Slam, is the only player to have won three career Grand Slams and the most weeks as world No. 1 amid his epic list of achievements.

He’s also won 96 singles career titles on the ATP tour from 136 finals.

Needless to say, it’s been a remarkable career so far.

There are few arguments left about Novak. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

Stubbs, a former double World No. 1 and four-time doubles grand slam winner who coached the likes of Serena Williams, Aussie US Open winner Sam Stosur and Karolina Pliskova, claimed that Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of titles was due to the fact he’ll never be as loved as Federer and Nadal.

“His (Djokovic’s) numbers are just incredible and no matter how or what, he’s very polarising in a lot of ways to a lot of people, but for me, as a former pro and somebody who has watched this game for a really long time, you just have to marvel at his ability to just never quit and he’s relentless,” Stubbs said.

“I think Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal definitely personified wanting to win a lot but it’s obsessive to Novak and you can see it that he wants to put the numbers up because he knows he’s not going to be as popular worldwide as Roger and Rafa — I think I’m right in saying that, it’s just a fact.

“I think he wants to put the numbers up so much that ‘Yes they may be more popular than me but I’ll always be the greatest and I’ll always have the numbers over them’ and he doesn’t care.

“And I admire him for that. I admire him for not wanting to be the favourite, not wanting to be the one that everyone loves, because it’s not in his nature.”

Stubbs added that “he’s a credit to the sport” and “raises the bar”.

Stubbs worked with Serena Williams among others. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

While Djokovic’s on-court performances continue to defy belief, he’s also been very divisive.

From his refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccine, which saw him deported from the Australian Open and banned from the US Open in 2022, Djokovic has also been slammed for what leading tennis reported Ben Rothenberg called “wildly anti-science” beliefs over the years, including being an outspoken advocate of alternative medicine and how emotions could make “toxic” food and water more healthy.

It’s left the Serbian superstar with a passionate supporter base on one hand, and others who refuse to concede his numbers point to him being the greatest ever.

But Stubbs was unequivocal about where she believe Djokovic ranks.

“We’ve literally got the greatest player of all-time, I mean he has sealed the deal,” Stubbs said.

“No matter what you think about Novak, if you love him, if you hate him, this guy is unbelievable.

“36 years of age, everyone is like ‘oh he looks tired, he looks gassed’. He looked gassed in Cincinnati, ‘oh he is done, he is getting too old for this, time is started to catch up with him’.

“He like makes these 20-year-olds and 25-year-olds and 27-year-olds look like they have never worked out their whole life.

“It’s unbelievable how resilient this guy is, no matter what is thrown at him.”

One more win and Novak will be the winningest grand slam champ in history. Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP

But while she believes Djokovic is the GOAT, social media erupted.

Commentator and 18-time grand slam winner Chris Evert hit out at Stubbs’ comments.

“To me, it doesn’t really matter where his motivation to win comes from, the fact is, he’s passing the other two and should be admired for his achievements and his records….,” she commented.

To me, it doesn’t really matter where his motivation to win comes from, the fact is, he’s passing the other two and should be admired for his achievements and his records….🤷‍♀️💪 https://t.co/0uJMktE7FR

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) September 19, 2023

Evert was responding to a post from former Bollywood film reporter Puneet Bhundal who claimed Stubbs was “sooooo upset”.

The post went viral with nearly 800,000 views on X, formerly known as Twitter.

While plenty of people trashed Stubbs’ take on the “obsession” quote, others claimed that it took Stubbs’ opinion out of context.

For the record, Stubbs claimed Djokovic should have been able to play at the 2022 Australian Open before he was deported, although was critical of his infamous interview with a reporter before heading to Australia as he was Covid positive.

She also said she believes Djokovic will win 28 titles before he retires.

Fellow Aussie grand slam champ Pat Rafter also said “it’s pretty evident that he (Djokovic) is best player of all-time

Djokovic claimed his 24th grand slam title with a victory over Medvedev at the US Open in a 6-3 7-6 6-3 thrashing.