MX23RW : Friday, December 13 19:48:32| >> :600:108164866:108164866:

Tim Henman: 'Novak Djokovic will be the greatest men's player of all time'

Tim Henman: 'Novak Djokovic will be the greatest men's player of all time'
© Reuters
Novak Djokovic is chasing a 20th slam title.

Tim Henman believes Novak Djokovic will come out victorious by some distance in the 'GOAT' race at the top of men's tennis.

Djokovic will equal the record hauls of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 major titles, and be three-quarters of the way towards the grand slam, if he beats Matteo Berrettini in Sunday's Wimbledon final.

Four-time semi-finalist Henman can even see the Serbian world number one chasing down Margaret Court's total of 24 grand slam titles, ending once and for all the debate about who is the greatest of all time.

"I don't want to sit on the fence but if they have all got 20, it's tough to say he is the best ever," said BBC pundit Henman.

Wimbledon 2019 – Day Eleven – The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Nadal and Federer have 20 grand slam titles each (Adrian Dennis/PA)

"But who do I think will be the best ever? Djokovic. Certainly the best male player. To me it will become a numbers game and if they are all on 20 then I would reserve judgement.

"You look at the way he is playing, his intensity, consistency, I really think the grand slam is on this year.

"There is no doubt, and I have said for a couple of years, I think he will be the male player with the most grand glams. And therefore he will go down as the greatest male player of all time.

"Looking at Djokovic's fitness, motivation, hunger and desire, I definitely see him challenging Serena Williams and then Margaret Court in terms of the total number of singles grand slam titles won."

Henman admits he cannot see anything but a Djokovic victory over Italian seventh seed Berrettini.

"Berrettini couldn't come into this match in any better form – but I don't see Djokovic losing," he added.

Wimbledon 2021 – Day Eleven – The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Matteo Berrettini is in his first Wimbledon final (Adam Davy/PA

However Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, believes big-serving Berrettini has more than a puncher's chance of upsetting the odds.

"I do think Berrettini has a shot at this," Cash said. "With his game the grass just gives him another leg-up. I mean that serve and forehand is the biggest.

"I can think of Andy Roddick. But can you think of anybody else that has a serve and forehand like Roddick's? This is almost another level. Maybe not the serve but the forehand. I can't think of a better one-two combination."

ID:454856: cacheID:454856:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7223:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ashleigh Barty celebrates winning the women's Wimbledon title on July 10, 2021
Read Next:
Wimbledon day 13: Ashleigh Barty claims maiden Wimbledon title
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!