“The one we didn’t want, the one we didn’t need,” Novak Djokovic dubbed the “Yoko Ono of tennis” as Andy Roddick explains the Serb’s rise to greatness

Roddick makes an interesting comparison between Djokovic and famous singer Yoko Ono, wife of Beatles singer John Lennon.

“The one we didn’t want, the one we didn’t need,” Novak Djokovic dubbed the “Yoko Ono of tennis” as Andy Roddick explains the Serb’s rise to greatness

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, John Lennon with Yoko Ono, Roger Federer (images via IMAGO, PEOPLE)

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has possibly made the greatest comeback. Comeback, not in any match, but in taking the lead for the most Grand Slam singles titles. Nole was always trailing his arch-rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Federer won his maiden Major at 2003 Wimbledon while Nadal won his first at the 2005 French Open. Nole clinched his first Grand Slam singles title at the 2008 Australian Open. By then, Federer had won 12 singles Majors. The Spaniard had won three consecutive French Open titles, his only Majors till then.

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Federer and Nadal both had established a big rivalry till then. The two had shared all the Grand Slam singles titles since Rafa’s maiden win in Paris before Nole won in Melbourne Park. Since then, it has been a three-way battle with Andy Murray later making it a four-way tussle for the big titles.

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Murray however could not be as successful at the Grand Slams as the other three. The Briton won just three titles while finishing in eight other Major finals. Many credit Djokovic for breaking the dominance of the Swiss maestro and King of Clay and he now leads the race for most singles Major.

His 24th singles Grand Slam title which he won at the 2023 US Open has now taken him four ahead of the retired Swiss and two ahead of Nadal. Commenting on this, former US Open winner and World No. 1 Andy Roddick compared Nole to Japanese singer Yoko Ono.

Yoko was married to the famous Beatles singer John Lennon. She is allegedly blamed for breaking up the legendary band. The blame arises following the Beatles disbanding just a year after her marriage to Lennon. Roddick made the analogy while also explaining why he made such a comparison. 

I feel like Novak Djokovic is the guy who broke up The Beatles. He is like tennis' Yoko [Ono]. He is the one who we didn't want, didn't need. We had the rivalry, we had the lefty-righty. We had the contrasting styles. Then all of a sudden, this cyborg robot, but also someone who plays with a lot of emotion, comes in.
Said Roddick.

And he’s like, ‘I’m not buying into the hype. I am complete. You can’t go through me, you can’t go around me. I’m gonna take the punches from these guys’. It was weird. It was almost like the kind of the mainstream not tennis-centric fan was kind of mad at him for it, right?

Added the former World No. 1.

Novak Djokovic will eye the only missing honor from his trophy cabinet this year

Djokovic currently leads the Tour for most singles Major, most singles Masters-1000, most weeks spent as the World No. 1, and most finishes as the year-end World No. 1 – to name a few.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via: Imago)

Yet, many fans refuse to acknowledge him as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). The argument that’s used has been Djokovic’s missing Gold medal at the Olympics. Nadal won two during his career, singles Gold in 2008 and doubles Gold in 2016. Federer won the doubles Gold in 2008.

Murray is the only man to successfully defend his Olympic gold in singles, achieving the feat in 2012 and 2016. Nole’s only glory at the Olympics came in Beijing in 2008 when he won the Bronze medal.

He was a favorite for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well but lost in the semis and also the singles bronze medal match. He played the mixed doubles as well in Tokyo but an injury saw him withdraw before the bronze medal match.

With Paris hosting the Games this year, Nole will be the favorite for the medal yet again. If the Serb can win a gold medal this year, maybe all tennis fans will have to agree, willingly or unwillingly, to accept Djokovic’s status as the GOAT.

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