500 weeks at World No.1? Novak Djokovic goes closer to setting ranking milestone in 2025 despite Australian Open loss

Novak Djokovic's remarkable run in Australia might be over, but his ATP Ranking streak could yet continue well into 2025 with a record breaking milestone in sight.

Djokovic could've been dethroned by Carlos Alcaraz during the Australian Open if he progressed further than the 24-time Grand Slam champion. But defeat to Alexander Zverev ended those hopes. The result appears to have ended any hopes of Alcaraz going back to World No.1 for most of 2024 already and Djokovic will likely extend his lead at the top. After not being able to enter the US for Indian Wells and Miami last year, with Alcaraz collecting a huge haul of points, he will get the chance to return this year with the Spaniard defending 1,360 points which will drop off. Djokovic on the other hand will go for at least 2,000 ranking points in the subsequent tournaments.

Alcaraz who competed in multiple warm-up tournaments for Roland Garros and Wimbledon and won in Barcelona, Madrid and Queen's before sealing the latter Grand Slam title will also be an issue. This means that Djokovic's lack of playing warm-ups in fact will prove to be a good decision for his ranking in the long haul. His threats to World No.1 are more likely to be from Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev or Jannik Sinner. The latter two have the chance to close the gap, while Zverev's lack of playing time due to injury in the previous season could yet prove vital too as he has less to defend.

Currently on 409 weeks and unlikely to be caught for some time, Djokovic is very much likely to breach the 500 week barrier going into 2025.