No1e!

Watching Novak Djokovic at this age, play this level of tennis, is just dazzling. How can one not ask themselves if he is even human? I think that’s the new narrative.

Let’s rewind to 2005. I am with my friend, we’re grabbing a coffee at a drive-thru and commenting on Djokovic’s performance at the US Open. He had just beaten Mario Ancic in the second round and was about to face Verdasco in the third round. It was a kind of revelation; a Serbian kid in the spotlight at the US Open! It totally made our day.

What ensued after that was just one incredible journey. Watching Djokovic win his first ATP title in Amersfoort, The Netherlands in 2006 and then the first Grand Slam in Australia versus Tsonga in 2008 were two memorable moments. There were so many more to come. And come they did! It’s been almost twenty years and they still keep coming. I wish they never stop. It seems like they won’t.

The GOAT debate is honestly not even fun anymore. How can it be? What new metric can someone even come up with so that it still has any meaning or substance? Is there anything else that can be surpassed? Connors’ total titles? Matches won on the ATP Tour?

The most amazing thing is the level of tennis he has shown in the last two matches against two of the most formidable opponents at this stage of his career. He's 36 and he just ran over them. Luckily, it’s the end of the season, so they’ll have some time to recuperate. These were statement matches!

So, the only thing to figure out is if he’s human. Nothing else is worth debating anymore!

The genuine interaction with his children after the matches is the only hint that he might be human after all. Is it enough evidence, though?

KEYWORDS/KEYPHRASES

-dazzling: Something that's extremely impressive or beautiful.

-drive-thru: a takeaway restaurant, bank, etc. designed so that customers can use it without leaving their cars

-to be in the spotlight:  Someone or something that is in the spotlight is getting a great deal of public attention

- US Open: international tennis tournament, the fourth and final of the major events that make up the annual Grand Slam of tennis (the other tournaments are the Australian Open, the French Open, and the Wimbledon Championships).

-GOAT: Greatest Of All Time

-metric: is a standard for measuring or assessing something

-formidable: very powerful or strong deserving serious attention and respect

-recuperate: to recover from sickness or exhaustion; regain health or strength