Smash pow-wow: Is Djokovic the GOAT?

Published by Leigh Rogers, Joel Smith, Paul Moore

Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of making history... again. Photo: Getty Images
Do we like an underdog? When do we start discussing Novak as a GOAT? Who will win the French Open? This is the tennismash pow-wow.

Half the Smash crew are wolfing down snails, croissants and red wine for breakfast, meaning that there’s a different look and feel to the pow-wow this week. Social media superstar Joel Smith has joined the team as we try to answer some of the fundamental questions in tennis life.

With Shelby Rogers and Albert Ramos-Vinolas into the quarterfinals, is it good to have new names going deep at the tournament or does it dampen the spectacle?
Leigh Rogers
: Neither player is a household name that will sell tickets or drive television viewers, so from the tournament’s commercial point of view it is not ideal. But for me, these are the stories that make Grand Slams special. How can you argue that the emotion shown on-court from Shelby Rogers after her fourth round win is bad for the tournament? Both players have earned their quarterfinal spots with spirited runs, so all credit to them.

Joel Smith: Absolutely. The second week of a Grand Slam certainly gets players noticed and brings a refreshing taste to tennis. No one forgets or should forget the heroic run of an underdog. It was only five months ago that Britain’s Johanna Konta was playing Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai in a quarterfinal of the Australian Open. Rogers and Ramos-Vinolas have defeated top 10 players Kvitova and Raonic respectively on their path to the Roland Garros quarterfinals which tells me they must be playing quality tennis.

Paul Moore: Honestly? Of course it dampens the spectacle. Sure, everyone loves and underdog story and it’s great to have new names and blah blah blah. But honestly? Would you rather be watching Stan v Milos or Stan v Ramos-Vinolas on Chatrier tomorrow. Likewise, Kvitova v Muguruza has blockbuster written all over it. Rogers v Muguruza just feels a bit… meh. Give me the big guns every day of the week.

Novak is about to break $100m and could be the first man to hold all four Slams since Rod Laver in 1969. When do we start talking about him as being the Greatest of All Time?
Leigh Rogers: What Novak has achieved so far in his career is simply phenomenal. He has often been overshadowed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and rightly so early in his career. Is he potentially the greatest of all time? His career statistics make a compelling a case. If he wins the French Open and can hold all four Grand Slams at once, it is a feat that neither Federer or Nadal have achieved, so only further strengths his GOAT case.

Joel Smith: Novak Djokovic is in the prime of his career and there’s no reason as to why he can’t finally win that elusive French Open title. However, if you are comparing him to the current ‘Greatest of All Time’ in Roger Federer, a 2016 win at Roland Garros still sees him six Grand Slam titles short. When did we start talking about Roger Federer as the GOAT? Is there a magic number? In a week’s time, Novak might have the Novak Slam and $100m in his bank account but still not have the GOAT mantle. However, I’ll stand corrected if he can pull off the 2016 “Grand Slam”.

Paul Moore: How can we not? I know he’s still a few Slams behind Roger and Rafa, but is there any doubt that he’s going to catch up in the next couple of years? Of course not. Novak is smashing his way through the record books, and doing it at a time when there’s some pretty healthy competition out there. If he wins the French Open this year – and that is an if – and joins the elite club of Rod Laver and Don Budge as the only men to hold all four Slams at once, then it’s hard to argue against him being described as anything other than the GOAT.

Who do you think will be holding the trophies at the end of next week?
Leigh Rogers
: Novak and Serena. I know tipping the world No.1’s is the easy option, but I can’t see either of them being beaten. At the start of the tournament I wasn’t so sure, but luck seems to be on their side with both of their draws opening up with early losses / injuries eliminating their biggest rivals in the opening week. Richard Gasquet and Garbine Muguruza on the other halves of the draw are ones to watch, but I think the best they can do is a runner-up finish.

Joel Smith: With Rafa Nadal’s surprise withdrawal earlier in the tournament, there is no going past Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray’s two early rounds five-setter’s will certainly catch up to him when it counts the most, and defending champion Stan Wawrinka has not yet proven he can win back-to-back titles in any of his matches thus far. On the women’s side, you could throw a blanket over them. Serena has not yet dropped a set but was certainly pushed against Mladenovic. Muguruza and Radwanska are winning but have each played one more set than Williams. As a roughie, I’d like to see Sam Stosur win. She seems to be revisiting her form from 2010 and when she’s away from home, who knows what she can produce?

Paul Moore: I’m a contrary person at heart and just because I think everyone is assuming Novak and Serena will walk away with it, I’m going to look elsewhere. But for good reason. I have a sneaky feeling Stan Wawrinka is going to defend his men’s title. He’s playing great tennis, beating good players, and loves taking on Novak. On the women’s side I’m going to go with Muguruza. She’s good enough to win a Slam, has beaten Serena on Chatrier, and seems to have finally found a semblance of form after her relatively rubbish start to the season.

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