First things first: Novak Djokovic is the undeniable GOAT. That honour is neither a popularity nor style contest, and it has nothing to with vaccines.

Djokovic has broken every tennis record that matters – and came out on top in what is widely considered the best, or strongest, era of men’s tennis.

There will always be arguments about the challenge of comparing eras, but Djokovic (24), Rafael Nadal (22) and Roger Federer (20) each won at least six more grand slam titles than the man with the fourth-most, Pete Sampras (14).

Djokovic also spent the most weeks at No.1 (428 weeks, compared to Federer’s 310) and finished the year in the top ranking more than anyone else (eight, compared to Sampras’ six).

Should a statue of 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic be erected at Melbourne Park?Credit: Matt Golding

The 38-year-old legend is also the only player to claim the career “golden Masters” – winning all nine active Masters 1000 events – and his 40 Masters titles in total are ahead of Nadal (36) and Federer (28).

His statistical supremacy is extraordinary, complete with an Olympic gold medal.

All this is important for the actual debate here: whether Tennis Australia should break with tradition and erect a statue, or even a bust, of Djokovic, a privilege that only Australians in our tennis hall of fame have in Melbourne Park’s Garden Square for now.

Grand slam titles remain the best gauge of a player’s status, and Djokovic’s 10 Australian Open triumphs make up almost half his overall tally (seven at Wimbledon, four at the US Open, and three at Roland-Garros).

Counting the amateur era, Federer and Australia’s Roy Emerson, both with six, have won the next-most singles titles in Melbourne. Only Margaret Court (polarising in her own right), with 11 championships........

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