11 September 2023 , 08:11
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John McEnroe has labelled Novak Djokovic a "remarkable athlete" after the Serb claimed his 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday.
Djokovic, 36, won the US Open for a fourth time after defeating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the final. It's the first time he's won the men's singles title at Flushing Meadows since 2018 after missing last year's tournament due to his Covid vaccination status.
Although Djokovic lost the Wimbledon final to emerging star Carlos Alcaraz, he has won three of this year's four Grand Slams. That means he now has more men's singles titles at Grand Slams than anyone else, two more than Rafael Nadal and four more than Roger Federer.
The only person to claim as many Grand Slam titles in the singles is women's icon Margaret Court, who won 24 between 1960 and 1973. Djokovic's longevity is perhaps his most staggering trait, winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open 15 years ago.
"He (Djokovic) is one of the most remarkable athletes you will see in any sport in every way possible," McEnroe, who won seven men's singles titles at Grand Slams, told ESPN. "The drive, the hunger, the will he still has after all his achievements is crazy.
Novak Djokovic won Australian Open despite playing with major hamstring tear
"He is one in a billion. I love Roger (Federer), I idolised Rod Laver. I have the greatest respect for Rafa Nadal who gives more of an effort consistently. But this guy. I don’t even know where to begin. You just have to admire him."
As well as four US Open titles, Djokovic has also won the French Open three times, Wimbledon seven times and the Australian Open a record 10 times. He called his latest triumph a "childhood dream" and believes he's grabbed his "shot at history".
John McEnroe has praised Djokovic's longevity (Getty Images)Is Novak Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time? Let us know in the comments below!
Djokovic told reporters: "It obviously means the world to me. I'm really living my childhood dream to compete at the highest level in this sport, which has given me and my family so much from difficult circumstances. I never thought I would be here but the last couple of years I thought I had a shot at history. Why not grab it when it is presented?"
2023 is the fourth time Djokovic has won three Grand Slams in a calendar year. He added: "I would definitely sign right away the paper if somebody would tell me I would win three out of four and play Wimbledon finals this year.
"There is a little regret that I didn't win that Wimbledon final. But, at the end of the day, I have so much more to be happier and content with than actually to regret something."