Casper Ruud has a bold statement about ‘tough nut’ Novak Djokovic as he picks his ‘best of all time’ tennis player
Casper Ruud believes Novak Djokovic should be considered the greatest player of all time because of his records.
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Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud (via US Open/Sky Sport)
Casper Ruud has admitted that Novak Djokovic deserves to be considered the greatest tennis player of all-time. Djokovic, who has established himself as one of the most enduring players in the history of the game, elevated his position after winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris.
The Serbian has surpassed the expectations of the tennis world, breaking the records of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Last year, at the US Open, he beat Daniil Medvedev to become the first male player since the Open Era to win 24 Grand Slams. The major title win placed Djokovic at a distance away from Federer, who won 20 Slams, and Nadal, with 22 Slams.
Remarkably, before the end of the 2023 season, he earned his 40th Masters 1000 title in Paris and then crowned it all with a record seventh-year-end ATP Finals victory. Despite having not won any title this year, the 37-year-old made sure he wrote his name in the history books of the sport—by winning the singles gold at the Paris Olympics.
He now has a total of 98 career titles and is still reaching for more, despite his dip in form this season. In a recent interview, Casper Ruud praised Djokovic, adding that he deserved to be considered as the greatest of all time.
Djokovic is a tough nut to crack and certainly deserves to be considered the best of all time. There is no doubt about everything he has won. I often say that it is not possible to ‘round off’ tennis like a video game when there is nothing else to achieve, but in terms of merits and tournament victories, Djokovic has won all the titles possible. It was fantastic to see him win Olympic gold this season.Casper Ruud said via Eurosport
Ruud and Djokovic are very much familiar with each other on the court. They have met six times, with Djokovic winning five times and Ruud just once. They would have met for the seventh time at the French Open, but Djokovic picked up a knee injury and withdrew.
Casper Ruud believes the 2024 US Open final marked the end of the Big Three
Casper Ruud admitted that the 2024 US Open final marked the end of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal’s (the Big Three) reign in tennis. Djokovic failed to reach the final of the US Open despite winning the title last year. The Grand Slam event had a first-time winner in Jannik Sinner.
Sinner beat Taylor Fritz in a straight set to win the title. However, with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz winning all four major titles this year, it became the first season since 2002 that neither of the Big Three won a Grand Slam. Ruud believes that a new generation of players is “changing the guard.”
That says something about how extremely dominant they have been, but now we are in a changing of the guard.Casper Ruud said via Eurosport
Ruud is leading Norway in the Davis Cup match in Oslo. The 25-year-old and his team will face Portugal on Saturday and Sunday (September 14 and 15).
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Victor Okechukwu
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