"I think he's gonna be no. 1 for 200 more for sure": Seven year old prediction from Viktor Troicki on Novak Djokovic that came true
ATPSunday, 26 November 2023 at 16:26
Viktor
Troicki, former Davis Cup teammate of Novak Djokovic, predicted that his
compatriot would achieve much greater feats 7 years ago.
The former
world No. 12 can claim to be one of the athletes who has closely witnessed
'Nole's journey over the years. Both of Serbian origin, they shared more than
10 years on the Davis Cup team and were key figures in Serbia's title in 2010,
where Viktor Troicki won the decisive match against Frenchman Michael Llodra.
The
37-year-old former tennis player, who has served as Davis Cup captain and works
with young talent Hamad Medjedovic, spoke in 2016 about Djokovic's
just-accomplished 200 weeks as world No. 1 and confidently stated that he would
continue making history by doubling that number.
“I honestly
believe he's going to be the best of all-time... I really admire him and congratulate him on all
that he's done. I think he's gonna be no. 1 for 200 more for sure."
Djokovic
was coming off a great season in 2018, securing titles at Wimbledon and the US
Open. This was the same year when Roger Federer claimed his 20th Grand Slam at
the Australian Open, and Nadal won his 17th Slam at the French Open. While
trailing slightly in the Grand Slam count, Djokovic had reached 14 at that
point:
When Troicki
was interviewed, he had no doubt that his teammate had the ability to surpass
Federer's incredible record.
“His father
always thought he would be the greatest in the world. He said he would have the
most Grand Slam titles. People wondered how you could say such things about a
child of 13.”
Since then,
Djokovic has been the Tour's greatest dominator, winning 10 Grand Slam titles,
followed by Nadal (5), Carlos Alcaraz (2), Dominic Thiem (1), and Daniil
Medvedev. As of now, he has spent 409 weeks as the world No. 1, far surpassing
Roger Federer's 310 weeks and Pete Sampras's 286 weeks. Additionally, he has
just finished the year as the world No. 1 for the 8th time, a record in the
Open Era.
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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