Novak Djokovic (Photo : Getty Images)
The list of tennis legends believing Novak Djokovic can actually surpass Roger Federer's Grand Slam haul keeps on growing. Former world's no.1 Pete Sampras is the latest tennis icon to vouch the idea of the Serb becoming the winningest player in Grand Slam history in three to four years time.
Sampras, who previously held the record of 14 Grand Slam championships, said he didn't expect that there would be three players breaking his record in just a short amount of time. Federer is still at the top of the heap with 17 major title, while Rafael Nadal has the same number as his. On the other hand, Djokovic has already collected 11 Grand Slams and very much in position to add more, based on his current form.
"Roger not only passed me, but he has 17," Sampras told CNN via Tennis.com. "And Rafa has 14, and Novak has 11. Literally three guys who passed me in one decade, or in pretty much 15 years' time. It's incredible. I didn't see it coming."
"To beat Roger twice at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, to beat Rafa at the French," he said. "...Truly he's one of the greats of all time. He's won 11 majors, he's only 28. If he keeps this up over the next three, four years, he could very well pass me and get to 16, 17."
Enjoyed my first practice in Indian Wells #BNPPO16 pic.twitter.com/QUKESKdGMm
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 11, 2016
When asked who would wind down as the greatest tennis player of all time, Sampras believes it all boils down between Federer and Djokovic.
He believes Federer, while not anymore dominating tournaments as he used to be during his glory days, is playing way better than before and consistently going deep in every Grand Slam competitions at age of 34. Djokovic, on the other hand, is a different animal as he's playing at the prime of his career.
