Novak Djokovic has now spent a total of 378 weeks on the throne of world number 1, according to the ATP rankings, the main international men’s tennis circuit, published on Monday February 27. The Serb signs there an absolute record, 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 he was not vaccinated against Covid-19, the player recovered the crown after his victory at the Australian Open in January against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. He 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 white year
Since then Novak Djokovic has broken several records. He has been world number 1 at least once (the ATP rankings are updated weekly) every 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 rankings, at 34 years and 7 months.
The Serb could soon win others: that of the most years completed in first place – he is one length from the record of Steffi Graff who finished eight seasons as world number 1 – or even 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 old.
He should not be able to play the next two Masters 1000 (the most important tournament category after the Grand Slams) in Indian Wells and Miami (United States) in March, due to his non-vaccination against Covid-19 , but is engaged this week at the Dubai tournament.
