The Serbian became the player – men and women combined on Monday – who spent the greatest number of cumulative weeks at the top. A position he had reached for the first time in 2011.
by Laura Pottier (with AFP)
Novak Djokovic has now spent 378 weeks in total on the throne of the world number 1, according to the ATP ranking, the main international male tennis circuit, published this Monday, February 27. The Serbian signs an absolute record there, ahead of the German Steffi Graf, whose career extended from 1982 to 1999 and who had accumulated 377 weeks.
Deprived of many tournaments last year, because not vaccinated against COVVI-19, the player recovered the crown after his victory at the Australian Open in January against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. He had reached the top of the world hierarchy for the first time in 2011, after winning his first Wimbledon at the expense of Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
2017 Blanche year
From Novak Djokovic has broken several records. He was at least once number 1 in the world (the ATP ranking acts every week) each season since 2011, with the exception of 2017. In 2021, he also became the oldest world number 1 to Finish a year at the top of the ranking, at 34 years and 7 months.
The Serbian could soon add up others: that of the greatest number of years completed in first place – it is a length of the Steffi Graff record which finished eight seasons as a world number 1 – or that of the oldest player to occupy the throne – held by Roger Federer, 36 years and 10 months; “Djoko” being 35 years and 9 months.
He should not be able to compete in the next two Masters 1,000 (the most important tournament category after the Grand Slam) in Indian Wells and Miami (United States) in March, because of his non-vaccination against the COVID-19, but is hired this week at the Dubai tournament.