Chess great Magnus Carlsen picks Novak Djokovic as the tennis GOAT over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, showers similar praise for Nikola Jokic

The chess master also said that Nikola Jokic deserved the NBA's MVP award.

Chess great Magnus Carlsen picks Novak Djokovic as the tennis GOAT over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, showers similar praise for Nikola Jokic

Magnus Carlsen and Novak Djokovic (Credits: Chess24 and Tennis365)

Chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen lauded Serbian sports legends Nikola Jokic and Novak Djokovic in a recent interview with Novost. He extended his respect for their exceptional accomplishments.

Carlsen, renowned for his chessboard strategy prowess, proclaimed Djokovic to be the best tennis player of all time. “I will not say this because I am speaking for the Serbian media and because I am addressing the audience there, but for me, Novak is the greatest tennis player of all time,” he asserted.

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Carlsen’s appreciation was not limited to tennis. The chess master also praised Nikola Jokic, saying the Denver Nuggets star deserved to be named NBA MVP for the third time in the previous season.

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Carlsen also could not stop himself from acknowledging the support to Serbian players. “It is fascinating to see, not only people in Serbia, but all over the Balkans, how they appreciate and are proud of their sports greatness,” said the Chess sensation. (H/T – Kurir)

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Djokovic earns the title of ‘Master of the Calendar’ from Alex Corretja

Former Spanish tennis player Alex Corretja recently praised Djokovic’s unrivaled ability to traverse the tennis season strategically. He named him the ‘Master of the Calendar.’ Corretja emphasized Djokovic’s effective distribution of effort and energy over the course of the year, which led to emphasis on the Serbian’s keen sense of when to flourish on the field.

Alex Corretja Novak Djokovic
Alex Corretja (L), Novak Djokovic (R) (Sources: Sport World News/Brittanica)

“I think Djokovic is the master of the calendar because he knows exactly what he needs to do in every moment,” Alex Corretja said while talking about the Serb. 

Djokovic’s mastery, according to him, extends beyond on-court performance. It necessitates a thorough grasp of his physique and playing style. The Serb chooses tournaments deliberately in order to get optimal results in crucial events while retaining a solid place in the ATP rankings.

The veteran cited Djokovic’s post-US Open actions, in which the Serb skipped the China Open and Shanghai Masters. Recognizing Djokovic’s ability to return to competition after a hiatus, he stressed the rarity of such a skill.

“It’s very difficult because it’s not easy not to compete a month and a half and then show up and be ready to do that,” he said. (H/T: Eurosport)

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