Bjorn Borg believes if world number one Novak Djokovic wins the French Open to hold all four major titles at once, it will be the greatest achievement ever in tennis.
Reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open champion Djokovic has the opportunity to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the Grand Slam if he is triumphant at Roland Garros next month.
And in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Borg has said he believes the ‘Novak Slam’ would be the most impressive feat in the history of the game.
“The last one that did that was Rod Laver,” Borg said. “But you have to look at the competition – it’s unbelievable today. If Djokovic could do it, that would be the biggest achievement, of course.
“It’s a long way to go but he is playing unbelievably good tennis. As long as he stays fit and healthy, he has a chance.
“What Djokovic did last year is one of the best seasons any player has had in tennis,” Borg added. “It was something special. We all remember his match against Roger Federer in the Paris semi-final. It was the best clay-court match Federer played in his life.
“Roger went on to lose in the final, but if that had been Djokovic playing Rafa in the final it maybe would have been a different story. Djokovic was the first player who had beaten Nadal at his own game. He had a mental advantage over Rafa then.”
Djokovic, Federer, and Andy Murray are all convinced Rafa Nadal remains the man to beat in Paris, and the Spaniard has his own chance to create history; a seventh French Open title would put him one above Borg and confirm his status as the King of clay.
And Borg has given his backing to Nadal to stand on his own as the greatest clay-court player ever.
“Records are meant to be beaten,” he said. “To me, Rafa is the greatest clay-court player ever. What he did on this surface is unbelievable.
“I’m happy to see it. If he stays healthy and motivated there’s not going to be too many players who can beat him on clay. He can win many more grand slam titles if his body holds up.”
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