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(CNN) – Novak Djokovic has broken Roger Federer’s all-time record for most of the weeks he spent as the men’s world number one.
The Serbian has topped the ATP rankings for 311 weeks combined, topping Federer’s 310 tally on Monday.
Djokovic has enjoyed five different spells as the best male tennis player in the world, most recently battling at Rafael Nadal’s top spot in February 2020.
“It really excites me to walk the path of legends and giants of this sport,” Djokovic said according to the ATP Tour.
“Knowing that I have earned a place among them by following my childhood dream is a beautiful confirmation that when you do things out of love and passion, anything is possible.”
The 33-year-old topped the rankings for the first time in July 2011 and has established himself as one of the greatest players in tennis history.
After winning the Australian Open in February, Djokovic now has 18 Grand Slam titles to his name, just two fewer than Federer and Nadal.
“Novak’s many accomplishments in tennis are extraordinary,” said ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi. “Among them, this album may be the most impressive.”
“Reaching number one is something that many players dream of and very few ever achieve, and having held first place longer than anyone is testament to the levels of sustained excellence that Novak has redefined in our sport.”
Djokovic reacted somewhat quietly to the unprecedented news on social media, writing on Twitter: “Today is a great day.”
Return of Federer
Speaking after his Australian Open victory, Djokovic said that he will now direct his efforts solely to winning more grand slams while pursuing Federer and Nadal’s all-time men’s record.
Yet the 39-year-old Federer insists his career is far from over after suffering a lengthy injury over the past year.
He has not played in a competitive match since losing to Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open last year, but will return to action in Qatar this week.
While his expectations remain low for his first match in over a year, Federer has his eyes on top form at Wimbledon in June.
“I might surprise myself, but actually I already [have] done in practice in recent weeks, “he told reporters.
“I was surprised at how well it turned out. But, as we know, matches are a different animal.”
This story was first published on CNN.com, “Novak Djokovic surpasses Roger Federer’s all-time record of weeks as world number one.”
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