Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic reached his 377th week on Monday at the forefront of the ATP world ranking, a brand that equals the record for weeks as world number one set by Germany’s Steffi Graf.
The Balkan already owned the brand among men and now equaled the German champion, considered one of the best tennis players in history. Djokovic will keep the record alone next Monday, when he adds 378 weeks, since the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, his escort in the ranking, could match his 6940 points if he wins the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, but he would do so with more tournaments played in the calendar year.
Throughout his career and in his fight to be considered the best tennis player of all time, the Serbian achieved 22 Grand Slam trophies, the same as the Spanish Rafael Nadal and more than any other male player in history, and He has held the record for weeks at the head of the ATP ranking for more than two years.
Djokovic’s closest male rival in the historical classification, which began to be implemented in 1973, is the Swiss Roger Federer, currently retired and who spent a total of 310 weeks as world number one, on a podium that closes the American Pete Sampras. with 286.
Thanks to his new week as leader of the classification, Djokovic equaled the German Steffi Graf, who came to command the WTA ranking for 377 weeks, which started in 1975. Graf was the female number one for 45 weeks more than the second ranked, the Czech Martina Navratilova (332), a podium that closed with the American Serena Williams in third position (319).
Coming off a few weeks off after winning the Australian Open with a hamstring tear, Djokovic is getting ready in Belgrade, hoping to return to the circuit next week at the ATP 500 in Dubaiwhich will take place between February 27 and March 4.