In a stunning cross-sport endorsement that has reverberated across the sporting globe, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has placed Novak Djokovic on the same pedestal as basketball icon Michael Jordan, declaring the Serbian tennis star as one of the greatest athletes of all time. The seven-time world snooker champion made the bold comparison during a candid interview on BBC Sport, leaving both tennis and snooker communities in awe.
O’Sullivan, widely regarded as the most naturally gifted player ever to pick up a cue, rarely speaks in superlatives about other athletes. Known for his blunt honesty and occasional reluctance to engage in hype, his words carry extraordinary weight. When asked about the ongoing GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate in tennis, O’Sullivan didn’t hesitate.
“Novak Djokovic is on par with Michael Jordan in terms of stature as the greatest athlete of all time,” he said, eyes fixed on the camera. “Every athlete admires Djokovic. I mean it. When you watch him play, it’s not just skill—it’s mental strength, longevity, obsession with perfection. That’s Jordan-level stuff. The guy has rewritten what’s possible in his sport, and he’s done it under insane pressure for two decades.”
The statement exploded online within minutes. Clips of the interview were shared millions of times on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, with hashtags #O’SullivanDjokovic, #GOATDebate, and #JordanLevel trending globally. Tennis fans, snooker enthusiasts, and even NBA followers joined the conversation, turning a routine sports interview into a cultural moment.
O’Sullivan’s comparison is especially powerful because of his own stature. The “Rocket” has won seven World Snooker Championships, seven Masters titles, and seven UK Championships—the so-called Triple Crown triple seven times. He holds the record for the most century breaks in professional snooker (over 1,200), the fastest maximum break (5 minutes 8 seconds), and has been world No. 1 multiple times across three decades. Like Djokovic, O’Sullivan has dominated his sport through sheer talent, relentless work ethic, and an almost supernatural ability to perform under pressure.
When icons from other disciplines—especially those as revered as O’Sullivan—bestow such praise, the words carry a unique authority. It’s one thing for Federer, Nadal, or Murray to call Djokovic the greatest; it’s quite another for a figure from a completely different sport to equate him with Michael Jordan, the man many consider the undisputed GOAT of basketball and arguably of all team sports.
The parallel is not superficial. Both Djokovic and Jordan redefined excellence in their fields through longevity and dominance. Jordan won six NBA championships in eight years (with two three-peats), retired twice, and returned to win more. Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles (surpassing Federer’s 20 and Nadal’s 22), spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player (428+), and won every major at least three times. He has done so while overcoming injuries, controversies, vaccine-related bans, hostile crowds, and the relentless pressure of the Big Three era.
O’Sullivan highlighted Djokovic’s mental fortitude as the key factor in the comparison.
“What Jordan did in basketball—those clutch moments, the killer instinct, the refusal to lose—Djokovic does the same in tennis,” O’Sullivan continued. “He’s lost finals, come back from two sets down, dealt with boos, injuries, media storms, and still keeps winning. That’s not normal. That’s generational. Every athlete looks at him and thinks, ‘How does he do it?’”
The endorsement sparked immediate reactions from the tennis world. Novak Djokovic himself retweeted the clip with a simple emoji: 🙏. Roger Federer posted: “Ronnie knows greatness when he sees it. Respect.” Rafael Nadal, who has shared an intense rivalry with Djokovic for nearly two decades, wrote: “Ronnie is right. Novak is one of the greatest ever. Full stop.”
Even non-tennis figures weighed in. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal commented: “That’s big respect from snooker to tennis. Jordan would probably agree—Djokovic is built different.” UFC champion Conor McGregor added: “Proper recognition. Djokovic is a savage. Pure mentality.”
The praise also ignited fresh debate about cross-sport GOAT comparisons. While some purists argue that comparing athletes from individual vs. team sports is unfair, many fans embraced the idea. O’Sullivan’s words gave weight to the argument that Djokovic’s sustained excellence transcends tennis. At 38 years old (turning 39 in May 2026), Djokovic continues to compete at the highest level, reaching the semifinals of the 2025 US Open and winning the Paris Masters in late 2025.
O’Sullivan concluded the interview with a final thought that summed up the sentiment:
“When you see someone like Novak, you don’t just admire the titles. You admire the obsession, the discipline, the ability to keep pushing when most would quit. That’s why every athlete looks up to him. He’s not just the greatest in tennis—he’s one of the greatest in any sport. Full stop.”
The impact of O’Sullivan’s statement goes beyond numbers. It bridges two very different sports, reminding fans that greatness is universal. Snooker, like tennis, is a solitary battle of skill, nerve, and endurance. O’Sullivan, who has battled his own demons and come out the other side as a champion, recognizes in Djokovic a kindred spirit.
As the tennis world prepares for the Australian Open starting next week, O’Sullivan’s endorsement adds yet another layer to Djokovic’s already towering legacy. Whether the Serb wins a record 25th Grand Slam or not, one thing is clear: when one of the greatest in his own sport calls you the Michael Jordan of yours, the conversation is no longer debatable.
It’s definitive.
