Novak Djokovic won the 2022 Australian Open by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final, and the Greek player declared him the best to ever hold a racket after their match.
The question of who the best player to ever hold a racket is remains a complicated one in tennis because it’s very specific. Some will say one player, others will name someone entirely different, making it hard to settle on a definitive choice.
There are stats and records that make it easier to judge, and while Djokovic is almost running away with it, his rivals are still close. It’s ultimately a highly subjective matter, even though it doesn’t have to be.
When it comes to Tsitsipas, his admiration for Roger Federer is well documented. His one-handed backhand is inspired by Federer’s, and he’s been on record calling the Swiss Maestro the best player of all time, at least from his perspective.
Yet, he seems to have come around a bit after losing to Djokovic once more. This time, it happened in the 2022 Australian Open final, in which the Serbian once again bested Tsitsipas.
It’s the second time they’ve contested a Grand Slam final against each other, following their clash at the French Open in 2021, and it's not a surprise that the Greek player only had words of praise for his opponent when talking to the packed Rod Laver Arena after the match, claiming Djokovic the greatest ever to hold a tennis racket.
"I’ve had the privilege to play a lot of tough, high-intensity matches, but Novak brings the best out of me. That’s what I’ve been working my entire life for. He’s one of the greatest ever to play our sport. I think he’s the greatest ever to hold a tennis racquet."
Tsitsipas has now faced Djokovic in several high-stakes matches, and maybe that's also what shaped this opinion for him.
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