Novak Djokovic is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
There are very few players in the history of tennis that can even begin to compare legacies with Djokovic.
The Serbian star has won almost everything there is to win on the ATP Tour during his 21 year professional career.
In 2025, Djokovic faces the tough challenge of competing with players much younger than him, many of which are decades his junior.
At the Australian Open, Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling four-set encounter, stunning the 21-year-old Spanish star.
A hamstring tear prevented the Serb from going any further in Melbourne, as he retired injured during his semi-final match with Alexander Zverev.
It was a tough result, but not one that affected his reputation, as most fans and pundits agree Djokovic belongs in the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) conversation.
The Serb had to earn his respect on the ATP Tour, however, with many dismissing him during his earlier years.
Tennis pundits laughed at Novak Djokovic during the French Open 20 years ago
In 2005, Djokovic qualified for the French Open, as he looked to secure a first career Grand Slam main draw win in round one.
Dropping just three games in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win, Djokovic breezed past America’s Robby Ginepri to do just that, as he booked his spot in the second round.
It was there that he would face 2004 French Open finalist Guillermo Coria, an Argentine who knew his way around the Parisian clay.
Entering as a huge underdog, the Serb was discounted by many ahead of the match, including two ESPN pundits, Cliff Drysdale and Mary Carillo.
“Let’s talk about the guy he’s taking on today, Novak Djokovic, what do we know about him, and what can we expect from him?” asked Drysdale.
“Not a lot,” replied Carillo, as the pair laughed.
“This kid is the youngest kid in the draw, he just turned 18 last week, he’s tall and he’s skinny, and he’s very very hungry, in fact when you look at him, it looks like he’s hungry literally and figuratively.
“Do I like him against [Guillermo] Coria?
“No, but let’s see what he’s got.”
In Carillo’s defense, her prediction wasn’t necessarily inaccurate, as Djokovic retired down two-sets to love against Coria, as he struggled with cramps and breathing issues.
The Serbia and Montenegro star was yet to fill out his body and struggled with fitness during his earlier years on the ATP Tour.
His career had just begun, however, and having secured his first Grand Slam main draw victory, he went on to add to his tally with wins at Wimbledon and the US Open later that same year.
| Round | Winner | Loser | Score |
| R3 | Sebastien Grosjean [9] | Novak Djokovic | 7-6, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 |
| R2 | Novak Djokovic | Guillermo Garcia Lopez | 3-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 |
| R1 | Novak Djokovic | Juan Monaco | 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 |
The teenager took down Juan Monaco and Guillermo Garcia Lopez for his first two wins at SW19, before losing to ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean in four sets.
| Round | Winner | Loser | Score |
| R3 | Fernando Verdasco | Novak Djokovic | 6-1, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 |
| R2 | Novak Djokovic | Mario Ancic [22] | 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 |
| R1 | Novak Djokovic | Gael Monfils | 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 0-6, 7-5 |
In New York, Djokovic played his part in a first-round classic with fellow youngster Gael Monfils, who remains a key member of the ATP Tour today.
Having lost the fourth set 6-0, Djokovic battled back to win in five, before making his way through to the third round with a convincing win over 22nd seed Mario Ancic.
For the second tournament running, he was unable to win his third round match as he came up short against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, bringing to an end his maiden Major campaign.
He finished 2005 as the world number 78, determined for more, as he looked to prove his doubters wrong.
Novak Djokovic proved the doubters wrong as he won 24 Grand Slam titles
12 months after being laughed at in the French capital, Djokovic returned with a vengeance as he stormed into a Major quarter-final for the first time.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal stood in his way, as once again the youngster retired during the third set, this time suffering with a lower back injury.
The Serb took the result in his stride, as he went on to win his first two tour-level titles in 2006, at the Dutch Open, and Moselle Open, finishing the year ranked inside the world’s top 20.
Djokovic went from strength to strength in 2007, before picking up a first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January 2008, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.
Ten more Majors followed in the next eight years, as Djokovic ruled the tennis world along with his biggest rivals Nadal and Roger Federer.
One title still eluded him, however, as he was yet to get over the line in Paris, having now lost in the Roland Garros final three times.
With Nadal injured, and Federer missing from the event, Djokovic had his chance in 2016, as he looked to finally prove the likes of Carillo and Drysdale wrong.
Andy Murray stood across the net from him, but there was nothing stopping the Serb, as he finally completed the Career Grand Slam, with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win.
His ‘figurative’ hunger had been rewarded, as the ‘skinny kid’ from Serbia finally lifted the trophy on Court Phillipe Chatrier.
Djokovic wasn’t done there, however, as he lifted two further French Open titles, in 2021, and 2023, taking his tally to three.
Adding his many successes at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, the 37-year-old currently sits on 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player, male or female, in the Open Era.
Drysdale and Carillo may not have expected a lot from him 20 years ago, but Djokovic proved them and many others wrong, going on to become one of the greatest athletes of all time.
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