The ATP began its ranking list in August 1973, with eight players having reached the ATP throne after their 30th birthday. Novak Djokovic is head and shoulders above all his rivals as the Serb reached his 150th No. 1 a week after his 30th birthday!
By way of illustration, four of his closest competitors have racked up 98 weeks as No. 1, leaving Djokovic in a league of his own, alone at the top. Novak has won 48 of the previous 51 matches since the Rome Masters last year.
The Serb claimed the ATP throne last week despite losing 2,000 ATP points at Wimbledon and missing out on the US Open and four 1,000 Masters. Novak lost to Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros quarterfinals and was unable to defend the title won in 2021.
Furthermore, the Serb failed to reach 2,000 ATP points after winning his seventh Wimbledon title, with more bad news just around the corner. Djokovic skipped the Canadian Masters, Cincinnati and US Open due to his vaccination status, entering his first tournament in more than two months in Tel Aviv.
Novak picked up where he left off at Wimbledon and conquered Tel Aviv and Astana in consecutive weeks. The Serb was the top seed at the Paris Masters, seeking his seventh title at this event. Djokovic reached the final and faced the young Holger Rune.
The Dane fought like a lion and came from 3-1 down in the final set to prevail and snatch the title from Djokovic. Novak scored 1,350 points in three events, and he still has a lot to do in Turin. The Serb conquered the ATP Finals after scoring all five wins, ending the season on a high and earning himself a chance to become World No.
1 after this year’s Australian Open. Djokovic began the 2023 season with the Adelaide title, adding 250 points to his tally and moving closer to the ATP throne.
Stubbs pays tribute to Djokovic
Former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs has predicted that Novak Djokovic will end his illustrious career with 28 Grand Slam titles to his name.
«I think by the time Novak [Djokovic] He finishes his career, he’s going to have, I guess, at 28. I think he can win at least five more Grand Slams by the time he finishes his career. So that will put it at around 27,» he said.
«You have to think that he’s a favorite every time he plays, particularly at a hard-court Grand Slam or at Wimbledon. I mean, the guy can win a couple more Wimbledon titles,» he added.
