Novak Djokovic holds the ATP throne at 36 years and 321 days
Novak Djokovic is completing his 419th week as world no. 1, making it historic! At 36 years and 321 days, Novak became the oldest world no. 1 player on Sunday, taking the record away from Roger Federer. The Swiss spent his 310th and last week on the ATP throne in June 2018, standing as the oldest player to achieve that at 36 years and 320 days.
Djokovic has been a player to beat for the last couple of years, focusing on the most notable events and delivering his best tennis when it matters the most. The Serb finished the previous season at the top and has stayed at the top after the opening three months of 2024 despite not winning an ATP title.
Thus, Novak secured an ultimate record that will take some beating in the upcoming years and decades.
Djokovic could lose the ATP throne to Jannik Sinner in the forthcoming two months, but that has not been his priority anymore after achieving eight year-end no.
1 seasons, over 400 no. 1 weeks and becoming the oldest player on the ATP throne. Novak has dominated the ATP ranking list since July 2011 at 24, accumulating over eight years at the top and keeping much younger rivals behind him well after turning 36.
Since February 2020, Djokovic has been a persistent force atop the ATP ranking list, losing the throne only momentarily to Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz while constantly bouncing back resiliently. The Serb stepped down from the top position in June 2022 and stayed away for 36 weeks, kicking off the 2023 season ranked 2nd behind Alcaraz.
Two rivals battled for the ATP throne until September when Novak broke Carlos’ resistance and secured another year-end no. 1 honor at 36. Djokovic produced a stellar season, lifting seven ATP titles, including three Majors from four finals, two Masters 1000 crowns and the ATP Finals, proving his everlasting class!
Novak celebrated his tenth Australian Open crown over Stefanos Tsitsipas before missing Indian Wells and Miami. The Serb raised his level on clay in time for Roland Garros, lifting the record-breaking 23rd Major title and passing Rafael Nadal for good!
Djokovic set his eyes on the third consecutive Major crown at Wimbledon, winning four straight titles in London since 2018!
Novak Djokovic is the oldest world no.
1 player in ATP history.
The Serb reached the final and met Carlos Alcaraz, losing after five sets and keeping the young gun in contention for the ATP throne. Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in that epic Cincinnati final, gathering a boost and carrying it to New York.
Novak came from two sets to love down against Laslo Djere at the US Open and conquered his 24th Major title, extending his record and breaking Carlos’ resistance. Djokovic collected 2300 ATP points at the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals, wrapping up the season in style and building an advantage over his young opponents.
Novak is yet to win an ATP title in 2024, suffering losses to Jannik Sinner and Luca Nardi and hoping for a better run on clay.
The Serb suffered a tough semi-final defeat in Melbourne, falling to Sinner 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 and ending his winning streak at the Australian Open at 33.
Djokovic came to Melbourne after the United Cup loss to Alex de Minaur, struggling with a minor virus and failing to deliver his A-game. Novak defeated Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin in four sets before ousting Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Adrian Mannarino after a more reliable performance.
Djokovic had to work hard against Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final, prevailing 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in three hours and 45 minutes, reaching his tenth Australian Open semi-final. Novak failed to break Taylor in the opening two sets, wasting 15 break chances and starting all over after two and a half hours.
Djokovic found the rhythm on the return in sets three and four, stealing Fritz’s serve four times and emerging over the top. Novak could not repeat that level against Jannik Sinner, losing in four sets and propelling the young gun into the title clash.
Djokovic sprayed over 50 unforced errors and stayed away from break chances for the first time in completed encounters at Majors. Sinner played rock-solid tennis, squandering a match point in the third set but delivering five breaks that carried him over the top.
Novak took a break after Australia, skipping all the action in February and returning in Indian Wells, competing in the desert after five years.
Djokovic did not bring his usual level, struggling a bit against Aleksandar Vukic before falling to the 20-year-old Italian Luca Nardi 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes.
A lucky loser played inspiring tennis against his idol, losing the second set but recovering his composure in the decider for a career-best triumph and only the fourth on the ATP level! Djokovic took a stomach pill and stayed below his standard level, playing well in the second set but losing ground in the decider.
Novak grabbed one point more than Luca, but not the crucial ones after delivering two breaks and getting broken three times. The young Italian played aggressive tennis, trusting his strokes and outplaying world no. 1 in the decider. Novak skipped Miami and parted ways with Goran Ivanisevic, hoping for a fresh start on clay in Monte Carlo.