With epic Wimbledon win, Novak Djokovic making a case as the all-time greatest

You play nearly five hours of energy-sapping tennis, as Novak Djokovic did in a compelling five-set win Sunday over Roger Federer at the Wimbledon finals, and you build up a serious appetite. So, soon after Federer's errant pop-up ended the match, the weary champion plucked some blades of grass from the lawn court, popped them into his mouth and began chewing. That Djokovic was making like a goat seemed appropriate. He has thrust himself back into the discussion of GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in the sport.

This title was his fifth at the All England Club and raised his record in finals there against Federer, who is most commonly recognized as the best player ever, to 3-0.

The Serbian has accumulated 16 Grand Slam crowns, just four fewer than Federer and two behind Rafael Nadal. At age 32, with relatively little tread on the tires, he ultimately could pass Rafa (33 but whose body is breaking down) and Fed (a fit 37).

He has drawn even with Federer at Wimbledon, each owning five titles, the most in the sport's open era. This, despite a crowd that largely treats him lukewarmly in deference to the vastly popular Swiss master. Some fans cannot help but violate tennis protocol by cheering Djokovic's rare errors.

If not for the newly installed tiebreaker format for the fifth set at Wimbledon finals, they might still be serving and volleying.

The pair was squared at 12-12 when the standard tiebreaker — first one to seven points — kicked in. Djokovic, who was becoming the first Wimbledon champ in 71 years to fend off a couple of match points in a fifth set, seized control. Take a deep breath and say the final score: 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3).

Time of match: 4 hours, 55 minutes, the longest finals yet at Wimbledon.

The longer, perhaps the better Sunday for Djokovic. He held the age advantage and had managed to avoid Nadal in the semifinals. While Federer's four-set victory over Rafa was not physically taxing, it was more mentally draining than Novak's win over a no-name.

SportsLine expert Sean Calvert not only pegged Djokovic as champ before Wimbledon started, he also predicted Djokovic would face Federer in the final.

As the drumroll builds to the U.S. Open in New York that concludes the Grand Slam schedule, Djokovic has reserved a place in the ongoing debate over the finest player ever to swing a racket. It is no joke that Djok belongs.