‘Highest standard I’ve ever seen is when Novak is playing at his best’

Former tennis great Andre Agassi gave a riveting interview to Times of India and talked about the tennis superstars of today while also giving his view on Novak Djokovic.

He did not want to remark on who was the greatest of all time saying, ‘numbers can’t be the only criterion’. ‘If somebody is playing their best tennis - which is different from the Best Of All Time - let me make that clear, then,” he proceeded.

“The highest standard of tennis I have ever seen is when Novak is playing his best tennis. The single level, for whatever my tennis IQ is worth, is an unmistakable standard to which everybody will strive to be. It doesn’t mean he has maximized it, but he is not done.

“I think Federer has made more of his career than anybody else. He’s more versatile than anybody. He could have won Grand Slams by serving and volleying only, or if not allowed to come to the net, he would have still figured out a way to win,” said Agassi, who worked with Djokovic as coach before ending the partnership on March last year.

He talked about differences between three of the tennis greats right now.

“I had the privilege of playing all three of them. Novak was the worst of them because he was so young and it was an exhibition but he still beat me.

“We had [Rod] Laver win two Grand Slams on two surfaces, grass and clay. Nobody has come close to winning four in the same year. Federer could have done it three times with one match against one guy he couldn’t seem to beat on clay (Rafael Nadal).

“So we are talking about historic achievements. I get it that when my generation left, Andy Roddick comes in and wins a Slam, somebody comes in and wins a Slam, but with Federer it looked like he was this guy coming in at the right time and then he ends up having to compete against two of the greatest ever and he does it. So I feel like these guys just kept raising the bar of tennis. Nadal speaks for himself,” he remarked.

Asked if Djokovic would be able to surpass Federer’s tally of 20 Slams, he said: “If I have to make a bet, what is he at? 15? So two more for three years? Now you also have children, you also have priorities in life, but if he wants to, he will”.