Is Novak Djokovic the Best Loser In History Of Tennis?

| by Zachary Wimer

The art of winning is beautiful, but even more, is the art of graciously losing, and Novak Djokovic seemingly perfected that.

The 36-year-old Serb lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 Wimbledon final, and it was a special one for him. He could have tied Roger Federer's record on the ATP Tour of eight Wimbledon titles, and also tie Margaret Court for the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles.

The stakes were high, and it showed when Djokovic destroyed his racquet during the match, but also, when the 23-time Grand Slam champion struggled to hold back his tears during the trophy ceremony.

The match mattered to him, and it was obvious, understandable, and logical. He doesn't shy away from attempting to make history, and he had a great chance to do that once again in the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

But he lost. Carlos Alcaraz proved to be the better player, and as Djokovic said after the match, it's probably even Steven after some of his previous victories, which probably shouldn't have happened.

Djokovic Receives Fine For Smashing His Racquet During Wimbledon Final
Djokovic Receives Fine For Smashing His Racquet During Wimbledon Final

While there's often a narrative of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal being more liked because of how they carry themselves on the tennis court, especially the Swiss Maestro, there's one quality that Djokovic possesses, and it's the art of being a good loser.

Often, the legacy of a champion is seen through the number of trophies amassed. However, an underexplored facet of greatness is how champions handle losses. Djokovic has weathered heart-wrenching losses on the grandest of stages and the 2023 Wimbledon final was another one.

But how did he handle the loss? After Carlos Alcaraz approached the net to shake his hand, following massive celebrations, the Serb couldn't stop smiling when talking to his final opponent, despite his internal state being surely far from that.

He showed that when he angered himself in the fifth set and also when he hurt himself after destroying the racquet. But Djokovic almost never destroys the joy of his opponent's victory by being cold at the net, especially against a 20-year-old opponent.

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