Novak Djokovic has been the most dominant men’s tennis player for the last ten years and doesn’t get appreciated says respected coach and analyst Paul Annacone.
Djokovic has won his 18th and 19th Grand Slam title this year, winning both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, putting him just one major behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
In doing so, the world number one became the first tennis player to win at least two titles at all four Grand Slams in the Open Era and that’s not the only record he holds.
This year Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer for the number of weeks in the number one spot and he is also the first and only player to achieve the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine Masters title, not once but twice.
Paul Annacone, former coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, believes that Djokovic isn’t getting the recognition he deserves specifically when looking at the stats from the last ten years.
“I think Novak is someone that is driven by what history shows him,” Annacone told the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast.
“He has come in the footsteps, probably of the hardest two people you could ever come in the footsteps of. Because they’re so beloved – Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal].
“For me, I think that’s a shame for Novak because he hasn’t been able to get the appreciation he deserves.
“But if you look at what’s happened since 2011, he has won 18 Grand Slams, and Rafa and Roger combined have won 15.
“So, he’s won 31 Masters 1000 [titles], the best they’ve done is 28. ATP Finals – he’s won four, those guys have won one [between them].
“And he’s been at number one [for] 324 [weeks]. He’s been the most dominant player for the last decade, that’s just the way it is.
“You can love whoever you want to love, but when you look at the facts – he has been the most dominant player in the last decade.”
More must-reads: