The Masters 1000 series has seen nearly 300 tournaments since Indian Wells 1990. Only four players have won the title after their 34th birthday, and four legends stand alone on the list. Andre Agassi did it at Cincinnati 2004, followed by Roger Federer at the same event 11 years later.
Roger raised the bar in 2017, lifting three titles and becoming the first Masters 1000 champion at the ages of 35 and 36. The Swiss gave one last push and lifted the trophy in Miami 2019 at 37 years and seven months, ensuring the record that has to be broken in the future.
Rafael Nadal joined the roster in Rome last year, winning the title a couple of weeks before his 35th birthday. Novak Djokovic dethroned Rafa at the Foro Italico this May, becoming champion a couple of days before his 35th birthday and becoming the second-youngest Masters 1000 winner.
Novak had a chance to become the second player to hold a Masters 1000 trophy in his hands after Federer, a couple of weeks ago in Paris. Djokovic reached the final and set his eyes on the seventh crown of the Paris Masters.
However, he suffered a tough 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 loss to young Dane Holger Rune and settled for runner-up. Holger defeated Novak in two hours and 33 minutes to become the fourth-youngest Masters 1000 winner. Novak played well in the first set and created break chances early in the second.
Holger wasted them and raised his level to defeat a six-time winner and force the decider. The Serb missed a game point that was able to win 4-1 and allowed the Dane to regain the advantage and extend the duel.
Djokovic won Wimbledon this year
Novak Djokovic recently spoke about the criticism he is often subjected to from the tennis media.
«I know that people sometimes think that I’m fake, that I do certain things because I want to be loved. It’s not like that, I’m just trying to be genuine. It’s something we’re losing,» Djokovic said. “It is not possible to please everyone, but at this point, political correctness forces us to give up expressing our ideas with respect, without hatred, but with freedom.
Freedom of expression for me today is just an illusion. Everything that has to do with health, for example. But I’m also interested in talking about what’s wrong in the world of tennis,» Djokovic said. In China there are many camps, but what can only 500 people live in: do you think it’s possible?»
