PARIS — The question was swift and direct. Novak Djokovic’s reply was sluggish, considerate and revelatory, delivered in paragraphs.

“How does it feel,” a reporter wished to know, “to be the greatest male player in history?”

First, a fast little bit of background: Djokovic’s championship on the 2023 French Open, earned through a 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 victory over Casper Ruud on Sunday that included a so-so begin after which a cascade of brilliance, offered his twenty third Grand Slam title.

No man has received as many. After spending his complete profession making an attempt to build up as a lot {hardware} as rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic now stands alone atop the listing. He had been tied at 22 with Nadal; Federer, who introduced his retirement final yr, has 20.

So, now, again to that query. For years, as that so-called Big Three dominated males’s tennis, the controversy has swirled over which must be thought-about the “GOAT” - “Greatest of All-Time.”

Federer has his backers. So does Nadal. Djokovic, too.

There are those that need to make it purely about numbers, and Djokovic earns that crown: In addition to the majors depend, he has spent a file variety of weeks at No. 1 within the rankings and has received every of the Masters 1000 occasions twice, whereas the opposite guys haven’t received every as soon as.

There are those that need to make it about model. There are those that need to take a look at different intangibles.

Then there are those that consider all three males should be lauded and appreciated equally. No have to take a facet.

And so, let’s hear Djokovic‘s reply.

“I mean, I don’t want to say that I am the greatest, because I feel - I’ve said it before - it’s disrespectful towards all the great champions in different eras of our sport that was played in a completely different way than it is played today,” Djokovic stated Sunday evening, carrying a pink jacket with “23″ stitched on the front. “I feel like each great champion of his own generation has left a huge mark, a legacy, and paved the way for us to be able to play this sport in such a great stage worldwide.”

He was simply getting began.

“So,” the 36-year-old from Serbia continued, ”I go away these sort of discussions of who's the best to another person. I've, in fact, enormous religion and confidence and perception (in) myself and for every thing that I'm and who I'm and what I'm able to doing. So this trophy clearly is one other affirmation of the standard of tennis that I’m nonetheless capable of produce, I really feel.”

He went on to say what he’s stated earlier than concerning the significance of the 4 main tournaments - the Australian Open (which he’s received 10 instances), French Open (three), Wimbledon (seven) and the U.S. Open (three) - and known as them “THE biggest priorities on the checklist for not just this season, but any season, especially at this stage of my career.”

There was extra.

About how he didn’t fare significantly properly throughout the clay-court portion of the season main as much as Roland Garros. About how he's a special participant when the best-of-five-set format arrives at majors (“He has this software in his head that he can switch (on) when a Grand Slam comes,” was the reason provided by his coach, Goran Ivanisevic). About the interior and outer strain and expectations he feels main into the match. About the satisfaction and reduction and pleasure and achievement he feels when it’s over and he’s received it.

And then Djokovic veered once more.

Although he was not requested about what the longer term may maintain, he did spin issues ahead a bit, actually implying he's intent on persevering with so as to add to his trophy whole.

“Of course, the journey is still not over. I feel if I’m winning Slams, why even think about ending the career that already has been going on for 20 years?” Djokovic stated. “So I still feel motivated. I still feel inspired to play the best tennis (at) these tournaments, the … Grand Slams. Those are the ones that count, I guess, the most in history of our sport.”

In the tip - 450 phrases right into a response to a query of 12 - he gave some perception into his mindset. Remember: He is midway to a calendar-year Grand Slam, one thing final executed by a person in 1969, and play begins on the All England Club on July 3.

Djokovic wrapped up by including six extra phrases to type a sentence that ought to make each different participant cautious: “I look forward, already, to Wimbledon.”

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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis author since 2002. Write to him at hfendrich@ap.org or observe him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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