In the past few years, the debate of who is the greatest tennis player of all time has come down mostly to three names: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Darren Cahill, who is currently coaching Jannik Sinner, and has worked with stars such as Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Simona Halep or Andy Murray, has his clear answer of who is the GOAT.
“To win 24 Grand Slams, I mean the guy is the greatest I have ever seen, I don’t think there is any question about this anymore,” he said about Novak Djokovic during an appearance at the Advantage Connors podcast in September 2023
“We could all have our favourites, Roger, Rafa, Rod Laver for me, winning two Grand Slams (Calendar), the last one in ’69, which was a remarkable effort. But to do what Novak has done and come from way behind when Rafa and Roger had a big Grand Slam total, and actually pass them on the Grand Slam total, remarkable performance,” he added.
Apart from winning 24 Grand Slams, Djokovic has spent the most weeks as world No. 1, surpassing 400 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings, and holds the record for the most year-end No. 1 finishes, achieving the feat eight times. He is also the only player to have won all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments at least twice, completing the Career Golden Masters—an achievement unmatched by any other player.
Novak Djokovic is the greatest player of all time, according to Darren Cahill (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Djokovic has also set records in head-to-head matchups, holding a winning record against both Nadal and Federer, his biggest rivals. He is the all-time leader in ATP Masters 1000 titles (40) and has secured the most hard-court Masters trophies in history, as well as seven ATP Finals titles.
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Darren Cahill’s tennis and coaching career
Darren Cahill had a solid career as a professional tennis player in the 1980s and early 1990s, reaching a career-high singles ranking of No. 22 in 1989. Known for his consistency and tactical play, he was particularly successful in doubles, winning 13 ATP titles and achieving a career-high doubles ranking of No. 10.
Cahill’s most notable singles result came at the 1988 US Open, where he reached the semifinals before losing to Mats Wilander. His playing career was cut short due to knee injuries, leading him to transition into coaching.
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As a coach, Cahill has worked with some of the biggest names in tennis. He guided Hewitt to the world No. 1 ranking and later helped Agassi reclaim the top spot at the age of 33. Cahill also played a key role in Simona Halep’s success, coaching her to two Grand Slam titles, including her 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon victories.
