Greg Rusedski believes 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic is finally getting the credit he duly deserves as his achievements were always shadowed by rivals Federer and Nadal.
The former British #1 praised the Serbian as “the most professional” player and describes the 36-year-old’s ability to stay fit despite being on the wrong side of 30 is an underrated skill. Djokovic saw off #3 seed Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in the final of 2023 US Open to claim his 24th Grand Slam title.
The Serbian secured three of his four major titles this year and was like 2021, just one game away from completing the coveted Calendar Slam but marginally fell short against Carlos Alcaraz in the five-set historic final. By dropping the fourth US Open title in his kitty, Djokovic has just completed the fourth season where he has won 3 of 4 slams – a men’s record.
Five days after his blistering triumph at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic returned to the court to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets in the Davis Cup group stage to help his home nation qualify for the knockout round of the team event where they will face Great Britain.
Speaking on an episode of the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast, Rusedski lauded the legendary Serbian for keep his body healthy and having the hunger to remain at the top of tennis.
“I think he’s the most professional. Even we heard Rafa talking about it, he was saying, ‘Look I had so many injuries throughout, Novak’s always been healthy, he’s the guy who has always gotten through physically’, and that in itself is a skill,” said the US Open runner-up, said the former world No. 4.
He continued: “People don’t look at recovery, health, consistency, all those things. To have that motivation and drive at 36 years old is incredible. I mean I was brain dead by the time I was 36, just playing some social tennis and some champions tennis on the senior tour.
“So, for him to do this at this high level and still be the best player on the planet is exceptional. Let’s enjoy it because this is a very rare thing to see in sport.
“And I think he is finally getting all the credit he deserves because he’s always under the shadows of Federer and Nadal with the love and the admiration. Now he’s really [getting] what he deserves from what he’s accomplishing.”
The British-Canadian former tennis pro also argued that Djokovic’s epic three-set win over Carlos Alcaraz in Western and Southern Open played a vital role in his US Open win.
“He was struggling with heat stroke in that match. It was brutally hot in Cincinnati. He knows how to manage those situations. Took a little bit more time, had the trainer come out, won that second set and then all of a sudden he pushes into the final set and he raises his game,” continued the British-Canadian.
“Carlos got frustrated, a little bit angry out there. And Novak just knew how to handle the bigger situations better. For me that was the defining match which got him to win the US Open. Had he lost that match, we might not be talking about three Slams and only one loss [this year],” concluded the 15-time ATP titlist.