“He will be forgotten”, Former World number 1 Tennis player sparks controversy with a heated remark on Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic’s record Breaking Victory at the Roland Garros 2023 has sparked a debate about his dominance in the ATP tours. Notably, Djokovic has been the number-one Tennis player for the longest time and has been phenomenal throughout his career. However, former world number one Ilie Nastase thinks differently as he believes that Djokovic will be forgotten with these 23 Grand Slams but others will be remembered.

Speaking with a news magazine and praising Rafael Nadal he said, “I don’t think there will be a fight, I don’t think there will be a personal fight between him and Nadal. I don’t see this thing. It could have been the other way around, it could have been Nadal with 23. The two are there, stuck together.” Speaking about the number of Grand Slams he said, “Djokovic cares, but I don’t think Nadal is jealous of that. Someone else should be jealous of him, who won Roland Garros 14 times. Those 14 are tougher than Djokovic’s 23. For him to win on clay 14 times at Roland Garros? I don’t think there’s another player who can do this job.”

It’s worth noting that, Nadal is king of the clay as he has lost just three games in French Open with more than 100 victories in his illustrious career. It’s also worth noting that, Nadal had surpassed Roger Federer’s grand slam record at the Australian Open in 2022, when all three players were tied on 20 majors. He’d stretch it to 22, but Djokovic’s victories at Wimbledon 2022, the Australian Open 2023, and now Roland Garros 2023 have vaulted him to the top of the rankings.

Ilie Nastase also praised other greats

Further speaking about the history and other players Nastase said that Novak Djokovic will be forgotten. He said, “They are all there, Federer too. Let’s not forget those from before, Borg, Rod Laver, who made the calendar Grand Slam twice, Sampras, Agassi, for example.” “They look at these things, but children and even adults only look at who is the current champion. I suppose it is the same in football. Pele was appreciated in his time, Cruyff was appreciated in his time, Maradona too, now he’s Messi, right?” continued Nastase, drawing comparisons to a debate that is even more heated in football.

“Djokovic will be forgotten with these 23 as the others were forgotten! He will be forgotten! We can only sit and look at the records when we open the newspaper or sports magazine, but we can’t forget Nadal, we can’t! Or Federer, even if he retires. It will be Djokovic’s turn too, right?” concluded Nastase in a fiery manner.