Novak
Djokovic, at the age of 36, ended 2023 as the world No. 1, securing three Grand
Slam titles in his collection, ultimately surpassing Rafael Nadal (22) with a
total of 24 Grand Slam victories. The Serbian had one of the best seasons of
his career, continuously breaking records.
With the
exceptional level displayed by 'Nole,' he enters the new season as a favorite,
especially for the upcoming Australian Open, a tournament he has won ten times.
Djokovic boasts an impressive record at the Australian Open, with 28
consecutive victories and winning his last five participations in the event (he
was not present in 2022 due to entry restrictions to Australia for unvaccinated
individuals amid Covid-19).
Key Records
of Djokovic:
Djokovic is the all-time leader in Grand Slam victories and the only one in history to win each of them on at least three occasions. Similarly, he holds the record for the most Masters 1000 trophies with 40 (surpassing Nadal with 36) and is the only player to win all nine tournaments, each at least twice. Still on a streak, he has accumulated 405 weeks as the world No. 1, significantly surpassing Federer's 310 and Pete Sampras's 286.
'Nole' has experienced 12 different seasons as the world No. 1, more than any other player, and has finished at the top of the ranking eight times, exceeding Federer's six years. Djokovic holds the record for the most wins over top-10 ranked players in the Open Era, totaling 257 victories. He also set a season record with 31 victories over top-10 players in 2015.
Upcoming
Challenges:
Undoubtedly,
Djokovic's primary objective will be to add more Grand Slam trophies, ensuring
his hold on the world No. 1 ranking at least until the clay season. Winning in
Australia would unquestionably make him the undisputed Grand Slam record
holder, surpassing Margaret Court's 24 titles between 1960 and 1973.
Djokovic could achieve the record for the most victories in Grand Slam matches. Federer leads with 369, followed by Serena Williams with 367, and Djokovic with 361. There are 8 victories that separate him from Federer, a feat he has accomplished in every season since 2006.
Regarding
overall titles, the current record is held by Jimmy Connors with 109, followed
by Roger Federer with 103. Djokovic currently has 98 titles and is likely to
join the 100-club, needing just two more victories (he has won at least two
titles in each of the last 18 consecutive seasons).
The only
major title Djokovic has yet to achieve is the Olympic gold medal, unlike
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The Olympics this year will be held in Paris at
the Roland Garros venue, where he will undoubtedly be one of the favorites. No
male tennis player has achieved the Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slam
titles and the gold medal, a feat accomplished by Steffi Graf in 1988. Although
it may seem like an almost impossible task, Djokovic has already demonstrated
the ability to break any record that comes his way and will likely seek to
continue making history.
