"Best year potentially on men's tour in 50 years": High praise from Brad Gilbert towards Novak Djokovic as Year End No.1 confirmed
ATP
Brad
Gilbert showered Novak Djokovic with praise for his remarkable achievement in
finishing 2023 as the world No. 1.
The
24-times Grand Slam champion maintains his incredible consistency at the age of
36 and will end the year at the top of the rankings for the eighth time in his
career. Djokovic secured victories in three out of the four Grand Slam events,
with his only setback occurring at Wimbledon, where he lost in the final to
Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite
playing in a limited number of tournaments throughout the year, the Serbian
athlete compiled an impressive record of 52-5, clinching six titles. Following
his triumph over Holger Rune in the first match of the ATP Finals, Djokovic
secured the world No. 1 ranking until 2024.
Former
coach of Andre Agassi, Brad Gilbert, expressed his admiration for Djokovic's
incredible feat on his X account (formerly Twitter). He asserted that this year
marked the best performance by a tennis player in the 50-year history of the
ATP Tour:
“This is
50th year of @atptour Djoker @DjokerNole his amazing 8th number one finish,
27-1 in slams, missed 4 hardcourt 1000’s hasn’t lost before finals since May,
at 36 years young i will put this as best year potentially on men’s tour in 50
years," Gilbert wrote
'Nole'
received the trophy as the best tennis player of the year after defeating Rune
and did not hide his excitement for the fantastic year he had:
“One of the
best years. I wouldn't say the best, but one of the best. I mean, the fact that
I've won three out of four slams and played a final the fourth and it's still
not the best year of my life, it's quite nice to have that kind of situation
(smiling),” he said.
“It's
definitely one of the best seasons. I mean, I had couple of years, I think
three times, that I won three out of four slams in a season, like 2011, 2015.
In those years, I won more matches. I mean, I played more tournaments. I was
really, I mean, feeling very dominant on the tour,” Djokovic stated.
“It's quite
different circumstances this year comparing to all the other years because I
played, what, 10, 11 tournaments this year. I played very well - least of
anybody. I just managed to peak at the right tournaments, at the right time.
That's what matters to me really,” world No. 1 added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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