Why sport’s famous No.23 will forever matter to incomparable Djokovic

The No.23 is one of the most famous in all sports.

Michael Jordan, LeBron James, David Beckham and Australia’s own Shane Warne are, or were, among the legendary athletes to achieve greatness with that number on their backs.

Novak Djokovic after winning No.23.Credit: Getty Images

Tennis, too, has an affinity with 23 (Serena Williams retired with that many grand slams), and now even more so with Novak Djokovic’s historic French Open victory on Sunday night that made him the winningest men’s grand slam singles champion.

The Serbian superstar’s 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Norway’s Casper Ruud will forever be remembered as the moment Djokovic became beyond all doubt the greatest men’s player of his generation – and probably ever.

Djokovic boasts 23 grand slam singles titles, snapping his deadlock with Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the undisputed king of clay, who was not fit enough to play at Roland-Garros this year. He even joined Jordan, James and co. in wearing the No.23 after pulling on a jacket post-triumph to recognise his feat.

Fittingly, this all happened in 2023.

Ruud summed it up perfectly: “Another day, another record for you, and another day you rewrite tennis history. It’s tough to explain how incredible it is, how good you are, and what an inspiration you are to so many people around the world – I know this probably tastes the best of all.”

Djokovic deservedly reclaims the No.1 ranking from his semi-final victim, Carlos Alcaraz, and is the sole man to win every grand slam at least three times. He won a 10th Australian Open championship in January, has triumphed seven times at Wimbledon, and now also the French Open and US Open on three occasions. A serious case could be mounted that Djokovic is the best active athlete across all sports.

Djokovic triumphed again.Credit: Getty Images

He has never captured the calendar grand slam – winning all four majors in the same year – but is halfway there in 2023.

Djokovic’s parents, wife, children and long-time agents were in his player’s box, as was NFL legend Tom Brady, while boxing great Mike Tyson and soccer stars Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were in the stands to witness history.

There was a reluctance to anoint Djokovic as the GOAT despite his dominance of all other achievements that matter – including weeks at No.1 and Masters titles – and that owes mostly to Nadal and the retired Roger Federer’s popularity.

He has both players covered in head-to-head matches. Federer claimed a still-extraordinary 20 grand slams, but injury finally ended his career last year – and Djokovic tormented him by the end. The Serb rallied from double-match point down to beat Federer in consecutive years in US Open semi-finals, and repeated that feat in the 2019 Wimbledon final.

Djokovic’s mentality is his greatest of countless strengths, whether rallying from almost-certain defeat, being at the top of tennis for so long, adhering to his famously strict diet, or absorbing the controversy that perennially follows him.

The 36-year-old offered an insight into the challenges he faces during his Melbourne Park run this year.

“It’s not an ideal situation or circumstance to be in when you have to kind of deal with all these other outside factors that are not really necessary during such an important event,” Djokovic said.

“But it’s been part of my life. Unfortunately, the last few years more so. I just try to evolve from it. I try to become more resilient, stronger.”

In reality, this moment could have arrived far sooner, if not for the COVID-19 era and his decision not to be vaccinated. That cost Djokovic the chance to play at last year’s Australian Open and the past two US Opens, with Nadal taking advantage of his Melbourne absence in 2022. Djokovic returned to Melbourne in January and will be allowed to compete in New York in August.

There is nothing to suggest he won’t win plenty more slam titles before he eventually retires, but No.23 will eternally be special. It was the day the Djokovic deniers could no longer do so.

Men’s grand slam singles titles (8 or more)

23: Novak Djokovic (10 Australian, 3 French, 7 Wimbledon, 3 US)

22: Rafael Nadal (2 Australian, 14 French, 2 Wimbledon, 4 US)

20: Roger Federer (6 Australian, 1 French, 8 Wimbledon, 5 US)

14: Pete Sampras (2 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, 5 US)

12: Roy Emerson (6 Australian, 2 French, 2 Wimbledon, 2 US)

11: Rod Laver (3 Australian, 2 French, 4 Wimbledon, 2 US)

11: Bjorn Borg (6 French, 5 Wimbledon)

10: Bill Tilden (3 Wimbledon, 7 US)

8: Fred Perry (1 Australian, 1 French, 3 Wimbledon, 3 US)

8: Ken Rosewall (4 Australian, 2 French, 2 US)

8: Jimmy Connors (1 Australian, 2 Wimbledon, 5 US)

8: Ivan Lendl (2 Australian, 3 French, 3 US)

8: Andre Agassi (4 Australian, 1 French, 1 Wimbledon, 2 US)

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