Novak Djokovic reacts to his media coverage in February
There is understandable intrigue in comparing the physical attributes of the highest performing athletes in contrasting elite sports. The varying dynamics makes direct comparison challenging, but a fascinating study shows that tennis legend Novak Djokovic can reach speeds similar to the two most exciting young football stars right now, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Djokovic is still the man to beat in tennis and has landed back Down Under plotting his bid for a 10th Australian Open title in Melbourne next month. The 35-year-old continues to dedicate himself to tennis in his relentless pursuit of perfection on the court.
But while Djokovic continues to push the boundaries, he was arguably at the peak of his physical powers in 2016, where he claimed both the Australian Open and French Open titles.
In winning his first crown at Roland Garros, Djokovic cemented his legacy as a true great by completing the career Grand Slam and becoming only the third male player to hold all four major titles at the same time.
Djokovic has clocked a higher speed than Haaland (Image: GETTY )
Djokovic had the competitive advantage of brisk speed in 2016 as he was found to be the fastest tennis player on the planet. Research by Tennis Australia found six years ago that the Serbian legend reached a top speed of 22.38mph when sprinting three or more metres, a pace significantly quicker than his rivals.
And a new study from Marca examines how Djokovic could compete with lightning Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe, 24, and Manchester City striker Haaland, 22 in a speed test. While tennis sprints are so often fleeting and explosive, Djokovic’s top speed is marginally higher than Haaland’s record breaking Bundesliga pace of 22.36mph set at Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
Djokovic hit a speed above 22mph in 2016 (Image: GETTY )
And his speed is only just eclipsed by Mbappe, who was clocked at a mesmerising 23.6mph in a PSG match against Monaco. These numbers point to the growing importance of physical dominance as well as technical excellence in the ever-demanding top level sport.
But Marca’s study also helps to envisage how a sprint race would unfold between stars across different sports. A new graphic shows that, at peak-fitness, Djokovic would be in a close battle for the line with Mbappe and Haaland on the athletics track.
The insight offers rare comparability between two vastly different sports where speed still offers a crucial edge on opponents. Though it would hardly be a surprise to see Mbappe and Haaland clock even quicker times in the coming years with the duo both entering the peak of their physical powers.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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