Federer hails Djokovic’s record-breaking 23rd slam title: “I thought what Novak did was incredible”

The Swiss said he thought Djokovic’s victory at Roland-Garros was “incredible”

AI / Reuters / Panoramic

June 16, 2023

Roger Federer popped up in London on Thursday – not at Wimbledon but in east London for the opening of a public tennis court in Greenwich as part of his Neon Legacy initiative – and he was soon asked what he thought of Novak Djokovic winning his men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros last weekend.

The Swiss, whose own mark of 20 puts him third behind Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (22), said he expects Djokovic to win more titles in the next few years.

“I thought what Novak did was incredible,” Federer said. “I remember when I came on Tour and Pete Sampras reached 14, we thought OK, that one’s going to stay forever. Then I went to 15, eventually ended up at 17 and then we pushed each other to 20, I don’t remember who was first. And then Rafa pushed it to 22 and now Novak pushed it to 23 and it looks like he;s going to keep on doing it for a long time still to come which is great and I wish him all the best.

“I think also the way he’s doing it – he’s not the youngest anymore, we forget, he looks young and he does it in a young way, but it’s not easy. I thought it was an amazing victory and I couldn’t have been more happy for him.”

𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 🍷

Novak Djokovic will be winning Slams “for a long time”, says Roger Federer 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3ghh3lZNlv

— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 15, 2023

Federer is set to attend Wimbledon next month where victory for Djokovic would give the Serb a 24th Grand Slam victory, equalling the overall record set by Margaret Court, and also give him an eighth Wimbledon, equalling Federer’s record.