Few players in tennis history command the respect of Björn Borg, the Swedish legend whose icy composure and revolutionary baseline game made him a global icon in the 1970s. Though Borg retired shockingly early at 26, his six French Opens and five consecutive Wimbledon titles cemented his place among the all-time greats. Now, more than four decades later, Borg is weighing in on the sport’s modern giant: Novak Djokovic.
For Borg, there is little debate about Djokovic’s place in the hierarchy. “Novak is the greatest player the game has ever seen,” he recently remarked. “His numbers, his longevity, his hunger – they speak for themselves. He has done things nobody else has done.” With 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has already separated himself from long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. His iron grip on the sport well into his mid- to late-thirties has pushed the boundaries of what was once thought possible.
And yet, the question now facing Djokovic is not whether he is the greatest, but whether his dream of reaching 25 Grand Slam titles is slipping out of reach. After dominating through 2021 and 2023, Djokovic has begun to show rare signs of vulnerability. Younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune have risen to challenge him, while the physical toll of nearly two decades at the very top has become harder to ignore.
Borg, who understands the mental and physical exhaustion of constant competition better than most, was candid about the Serbian’s situation. “At some point, age becomes a factor, even for Novak,” he said. “The body doesn’t recover the same way. The younger players are fearless, they want their moment. But Novak’s mind is so strong – if anyone can do it, he can.”
Indeed, Djokovic’s unrivalled mental toughness and ability to summon his best tennis in the biggest moments have long been his greatest weapons. Time and again, he has turned matches around with sheer resilience, breaking the will of opponents who thought they had him cornered. But in the past 18 months, losses in Grand Slam finals and semifinals have become more frequent. Questions about motivation have also surfaced: after achieving virtually everything in the sport, what keeps him pushing?
For Borg, the answer lies in Djokovic’s insatiable desire for history. “He is chasing records, yes, but it’s also about pride. He wants to show he can keep winning, no matter the circumstances. That is why he is special.”
Yet the margins are tighter than ever. Alcaraz has already proven he can dethrone Djokovic on the biggest stage, while Sinner’s rapid rise signals a generational shift. Every major Djokovic enters now feels like a referendum on whether the old guard can still hold back the future.
So, is a 25th Grand Slam fading from reach? Perhaps. But as Borg wisely notes, writing Djokovic off is a dangerous game. “We have said many times before that Novak was finished – and he always came back. Maybe he wins one more, maybe two. I would not bet against him.”
One thing is certain: whether Djokovic claims number 25 or not, his legacy as the greatest remains secure.
