Steffi Graf holds the record with 377 weeks as world no. 1, leaving all the players on the ATP and WTA Tour behind. However, Novak Djokovic will change that next week, enjoying his 376th week on the ATP throne and preparing to match the German the following Monday! The Serb kicked off his seventh reign on the ATP throne following his 22nd Major title at the Australian Open. Novak battled against Stefanos Tsitsipas for the no. 1 spot in the final and scored a 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 56 minutes, matching Rafael Nadal and writing history books. Things did not look good for Djokovic after the last year’s Roland Garros, losing the title to Rafael Nadal and missing 2000 ATP points at Wimbledon due to politics. To make things even worse, Novak skipped Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open due to his vaccination status and allowed his rivals to build the gap. Djokovic entered Tel Aviv at the end of September, playing his first ATP tournament in over two months.
Novak Djokovic stands on 376 weeks as world no. 1, one behind Steffi Graf.
The Serb won the title and added another a week later at the ATP 500 event in Astana. Hungry for more, Novak set his eyes on his seventh Paris Masters crown. Djokovic reached the final and fell to the young gun Holger Rune after a massive battle in the decider. Novak secured 1350 points at three events and waited for more in Turin. The Serb conquered the ATP Finals for the first time in years after scoring all five victories. Thus, he finished the season on a high note and earned a chance to become world no. 1 at the start of 2023. Djokovic kicked off the new season with the Adelaide title, adding 250 points to his tally and winning his fourth title from the previous five tournaments.
Novak injured his left leg during the campaign and did not look good in the early Australian Open stages. Djokovic battled past Enzo Couacaud and Grigor Dimitrov to reach the fourth round, doing everything to take the pain away. The Serb felt better for the rest of the tournament, which was a bad sign for his opponents. Novak stormed over Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev and Tommy Paul to reach the title clash, his tenth in Melbourne. Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 for his tenth Australian Open and the 22nd Major crown. With those 2000 ATP points, Novak passed Carlos Alcaraz and started his seventh reign on the ATP throne at 35 years. If he maintains this form, Djokovic will have a chance to achieve 400 weeks as world no. 1, playing in Dubai next and hoping to enter Indian Wells and Miami.