Djokovic cements status in GOAT debate after scaling men's Grand Slam peak

PARIS : If the debate about the best-ever man to wield a tennis racket came down to statistics alone, Novak Djokovic's status as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) would already be decided after he clinched a 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open on Sunday.

The Serb beat Casper Ruud 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5 to eclipse Rafa Nadal's mark of 22 Grand Slam titles and extend his advantage over the now-retired Roger Federer, who won 20 majors.

The trio have dominated men's tennis in the last two decades with a collective 65 Grand Slam titles and divide opinion among their loyal fanbases and analysts about who deserves to be known as the best of the lot.

But it is Djokovic who is currently the last man standing among the "Big Three" with Nadal effectively out for the season following hip muscle surgery, although the Serbian played down the significance of his latest crown.

"I don't want to say that I'm the greatest," Djokovic told reporters.

"It's disrespectful towards great champions in other eras. Each great champion of his generation has left a huge mark and paved the way.

"I leave these discussions to someone else."

The 36-year-old won his first Grand Slam title in 2008 when Federer had already claimed 13 of his 20 crowns and Nadal's era of unprecedented dominance was underway on the Parisian clay with the Spaniard primed to make inroads on the other surfaces.

"I've always compared myself to these guys, the two greatest rivals in my career," Djokovic said.

"I've said before they have defined me as a player. All the success I have, they contributed to it in a way... the countless hours of thinking what it takes to beat them.

"It's amazing to know I'm one ahead of Rafa but at the same time everyone writes their own history. I think everyone