Novak Djokovic demonstrated to the world that he’s not simply one of many nice 4 in tennis but additionally one of the best when it comes to pure statistics and being the final word beast on the courtroom.
Djokovic, enjoying a few of his greatest tennis at 36, can formally declare 2023 as his yr as he ended on the highest of the ATP Year-End World No. 1 rating for a record-extending eighth time and formally grew to become the primary man to win 24 Grand Slam titles.
He has tied Margaret Court for essentially the most ever of any participant in any period. The report 24-time Grand Slam champion has scripted many historic information to his identify. It was a record-breaking yr, from the Brisbane International in January to representing Serbia within the Davis Cup in November, with a calendar grand slam apparently inside grasp. While he failed to copy Rod Laver and Don Budge’s report, he did declare many different information as his personal.
In 2023, Djokovic surpassed Rafael Nadal by successful three Grand Slams, giving him a complete of 24 Major trophies. The Serbian got here close to to successful a calendar slam however was stopped by Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon. Only two males have ever gained a calendar slam: Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969.
Djokovic gained his fortieth ATP Masters title as he bagged the Paris Masters crown. Nadal holds the second place within the listing with 36 victories, whereas Roger Federer has 28. The Serbian additionally gained the ATP Masters 1000 match in Cincinnati, defeating Carlos Alcaraz after getting back from a set down. Djokovic can also be the one participant to have gained all 9 masters titles because the match’s begin in 1990.
With six ATP Finals championships, he was tied with Roger Federer for essentially the most. In 2023, he surpassed the Swiss legend by successful his seventh title in Turin, defeating native star Jannik Sinner. His 71st ‘Big Title’ – a mixture of Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, ATP Finals, and Olympic singles gold – was additionally gained.
Only an Olympic gold medal stays elusive for the world primary. Serbia’s best Olympic achievement was a bronze medal in Beijing in 2008. The 36-year-old Serbian was concerned in a back-and-forth battle for the title of world primary on the finish of the yr. Despite Alcaraz’s problem, Djokovic prevailed. In the primary spherical of the ATP Finals, he defeated Holger Rune to assert his eighth ATP year-end no. 1.
Djokovic has essentially the most year-end finishes on the high of the ATP rankings, with six, adopted by Pete Sampras. With 5, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Jimmy Connors are tied for third place.
After successful the ATP Finals in November, the 24-time Grand Slam champion started his four-hundredth week as world no. 1 within the ATP Rankings, including one other feather to his crown.
Earlier this yr, he broke Steffi Graf’s report of 377 weeks at world primary, being the one participant in both gender to do it. Federer holds the report for essentially the most consecutive weeks as world primary, with 237 weeks.
Djokovic is on his technique to successful his a centesimal title; he now has 98. Only Roger Federer (103 factors) and Jimmy Connors (109 factors) are forward of him.
Meanwhile, India’s star participant Rohan Bopanna went about his job quietly all through 2023, changing into a sports activities icon and attaining World No. 3 within the doubles rankings. Bopanna, along with Australian Matthew Edben, reached heights that few Indians have attained, and this on the age of 43, when most gamers retire.
Bopanna was rated nineteenth on the planet at first of the yr, however has already risen 16 locations. They reached the ATP Finals and superior to the match’s semi-finals because of their larger rating.
Notably, after not competing in worldwide tennis because the Australian Open, the 22-time main champion Rafael Nadal has confirmed that he can be returning to the tennis courtroom at Brisbane International which begins within the first week of January 2024.Â
