Novak Djokovic becomes oldest tennis player to be ranked number one

Novak Djokovic (Carine06, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Rahul Iyer of The Sporting News on Wednesday, Novak Djokovic of Belgrade, Serbia became the oldest tennis player ever to be ranked first in the world in men’s singles on Monday. He accomplished the feat at age 36 years, 10 months and 17 days.

Djokovic passes Roger Federer of Basel, Switzerland. Federer was world number one at 36 years,  10 months and 10 days on June 18, 2018.

Djokovic has been ranked first in the world a record 420 weeks. Federer is second on the list with 310 weeks. Djokovic has also been first in the world since September 11, 2023. Over the last 31 weeks, he has won the Paris Masters, and the ATP World Tour Finals. In 2024 however, Djokovic is still looking for his first title. He reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the third round of Indian Wells. In both instances Djokovic lost to an Italian. At the Australian Open, Djokovic lost to the eventual champion, Jannik Sinner, 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3. At Indian Wells, Djokovic lost to Luca Nardi, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, who at the time was ranked 125th in the world.

Djokovic is the oldest men’s tennis player ranked first in the world at the same time that India’s Rohan Bopanna is the oldest men’s doubles player ranked first in the world. Bopanna, who became the oldest player to win an ATP World Tour Finals match in November, is 44 years old. The previous oldest world number one in men’s doubles was Mike Bryan of the United States, who was 41 years old on July 1, 2019.

At Monte Carlo this week, Djokovic has reached the third round where he will face another Italian in Lorenzo Musetti. After getting a first round bye, Djokovic beat Roman Safiullin of Russia 6-1, 6-2 rather easily in the second round.

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