Casper Ruud names the GOAT of all sports, claiming he would beat Tom Brady and LeBron James

Casper Ruud faced an early exit at this year’s Cincinnati Open, being eliminated in his first match. Following his surprising departure, Ruud shared his candid views with SportKlub, igniting a debate on the “Greatest Player of All Time” (GOAT) across all sports. He named an athlete he believes could surpass legends like Tom Brady and LeBron James in various competitions.

In an interview, Ruud proclaimed Novak Djokovic not just as the GOAT in tennis, but across all sporting disciplines. “Novak is the greatest athlete of all time. While LeBron James might excel in some physical attributes, Novak stands out as the best athlete there has ever been,” Ruud asserted.

While many have crowned LeBron as the GOAT in basketball, particularly in the NBA, the discourse shifts when considering other sports. It’s a challenge to predict if James could outdo Djokovic, or vice versa, in a comprehensive athletic contest that spans multiple sports.

Ruud further extended his bold claims by suggesting that Djokovic would prevail over Brady in a physical competition. He emphasized that his intention was not to make direct cross-sport comparisons, but rather to imply Djokovic’s superior athleticism.

“I don’t mean to compare sports—it’s largely impractical. Yet, if we assess Novak against Tom Brady, for instance, while Brady is undeniably the greatest in NFL history, Novak would outmatch him in most athletic tests,” Ruud explained, referencing the NFL’s widely regarded GOAT.

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Why Djokovic could be considered the GOAT

While Ruud’s statement is purely subjective, it’s grounded in Djokovic’s monumental achievements in tennis. He stands as a formidable figure in the sport’s history, boasting an illustrious career filled with unparalleled accomplishments that compel many to consider him in the conversation as the GOAT in all sports arenas.

• Most men’s singles Grand Slam titles: With 24 titles, Djokovic holds the all-time record for most men’s singles major championships.
• Triple career Grand Slam: He is the only man in tennis history to win each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least three times.
• Titles by Tournament:
  • Australian Open: 10 titles (a men’s record)
  • French Open: 3 titles
  • Wimbledon: 7 titles
  • US Open: 4 titles

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• ATP Tour and Ranking Milestones
  • Most Weeks at World No. 1: Djokovic holds the all-time record for the most weeks spent as the world’s top-ranked men’s singles player, with over 428 weeks.
  • Most Year-End No. 1 Finishes: He has finished the year as the world’s No. 1 player a record eight times.
  • Career Golden Masters: He is the only player to have won all nine active ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, a feat he has accomplished twice.
  • Most ATP Masters 1000 Titles: With 40 titles, he holds the record for the most Masters 1000 championships.
  • ATP Finals: He has won the ATP Finals, the year-end championship, a record seven times.
• Other Notable Achievements
  • Olympic Gold Medal: He won the men’s singles gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, completing a “Career Golden Slam.”
  • Career Super Slam: Djokovic is one of only two men in history (along with Andre Agassi) to have won all four majors, the Olympic gold medal, and the ATP Finals.
  • 100+ Career Singles Titles: He became only the third man in the Open Era to win 100 ATP Tour singles titles.
  • Davis Cup Champion: He led the Serbian national team to victory in the 2010 Davis Cup.

When comparing the legendary careers of Brady and James with the one from Djokovic, the debate over their impact is endless. Both athletes have left indelible marks on their respective sports, earning praise from fans and analysts alike. To truly determine who stands as the greatest of all time, one must consider a myriad of factors, including championship success, individual accolades, and their influence on the game.