So, Novak Djokovic has captured his fifth Wimbledon crown, successfully defending the title he won last year. It takes the 32-year-old’s tally of Grand Slams to 16, just two behind Rafael Nadal and four fewer than Roger Federer. What are the implications of this latest victory? The experts have their say.

Christopher Clarey, New York Times
"In legacy, we’ll look back on this match as important a few years from now. It’s conceivable Novak will get to 20, given how he takes care of his body and thrives on competition; and it’s also conceivable that Nadal will get to 20. But this one proves that Djokovic has had Roger’s number late in Federer’s career – that’s five Grand Slam wins in a row for Novak over Federer.

"In big matches Novak is well accustomed to fighting the crowd and thriving on it. He’s been counted out a lot in his life, has trumped the odds against him. He needs a little more longevity before he can be part of the current debate about who is the greatest of all time. He’s been flirting with a true Grand Slam for a while now; if he could pull that off in this era, it would catapult him to the top of the list. 

"Roger has taught us all not to make statements about this being his last chance. They say the close ones are the ones that hurt the most. But I’d say losing the Wimbledon 2008 final would be worse. He has so much now, and I don’t think this will be as crushing as that was, although it will sting. Tough to forget having two Championship points on your own serve. But he’s clearly still a contender."

 Jonathan Overend, BBC radio
"One of the best debates in tennis is who’s going to finish his career with more Slams – Federer, Nadal or Djokovic? Novak moving on to 16 is significant purely because of his age. Logic suggests he’ll have at least one or two ‘clear’ years once Roger and Rafa retire (not that we’re seeing any possibility of that any time soon). How many will he win in that period? The upcoming NextGen will not be battle-hardened due to their inability to challenge at the business end of the Slams now. That will have an impact in three or four years’ time when they will be the rivals to Djokovic.

"Don’t forget that at the turn of the millennium, Roy Emerson held the record with 12 Grand Slam singles titles. Pete Sampras overtook that number, then Federer, then Nadal. For Djokovic now to be four clear of the old record says everything about the talents and longevity of this extraordinary trio at the top of the men’s game."

Chris Bowers, commentator and biographer of both Djokovic and Federer
"Since Federer won the Australian title last year, I’ve said he is a two- to two-and-a-half-hour player. He’s up there with the best for that long, but if he hasn’t won in that time, his chances of winning the match decrease quite rapidly; and even if he does win, it decreases his chances in the next.

"Djokovic is worth his place as an equal player to Federer or Nadal and could exceed their accumulation of Grand Slams; but it won’t achieve what he wants, which is to be recognised on the same level. He is the third man in a two-man show, and he’s never been totally at ease with that, even though he says all the right things. Djokovic plays far more labour-intensive tennis, so I don’t expect his career to last as long as Federer’s.

"I don’t think it was an accident that Djokovic lessened his intensity after winning Australia this year. He’s pacing himself because he knows he cannot maintain the level that he played at in the second half of last year. He needs to peak at the right five times of the year only – the four Slams and the ATP Finals – or else he will burn out again like he did in 2016."

Arvind Parmar, British former Davis Cup player
"It just shows what a complete player Djokovic is on every surface. We debate what is his favourite surface, and it’s difficult to know. That’s why he’s going to be around for many more years. He’s so much younger than Federer, he’s certainly going to catch him. The fact that Federer has 20 Slams to Djokovic’s 16 doesn’t mean they can’t both be considered now when we talk about who is the greatest of all time.

"There is an argument that Djokovic is that player already, and he’s looking so good that you can see him winning, conservatively, another two Slams a year for the next three years. Using the smaller tournaments as preparation for the Slams will be key. I don’t see him slowing down, such is his motivation."

Gigi Salmon, BBC Radio 5 Live
"Djokovic has made it clear it’s all about the Slams now. He’s got the ‘golden Masters’, where he’s achieved everything at that level, and now he’s trying to peak only at the ultimate competitions. He’s the youngest of the Big Three, and there’s a lot more to come from him. He looks after himself so well.

"It felt as if when he won Roland-Garros in 2016 to complete the set, the flame died. But it was reignited by new goals, one of which is to get as many Slam titles as possible. He wants to be at the head of that conversation about who is the greatest of them all, and by winning more and more Slams, he will achieve that. He’s closing in on Nadal – there’s much more to come from Djokovic."