Djokovic breaks Federer’s record for most weeks as ATP No. 1

NOVAK Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer for the most weeks at No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Monday.

Djokovic is in his 311st week in first place, one more than Federer has spent there.

“Today is a great day,” Djokovic tweeted on Monday.

The 33-year-old Serbian first reached No. 1 on July 4, 2011, a day after he won Wimbledon for the first time by beating top-ranked Rafael Nadal in the final. Djokovic’s rise represented the first time in nearly seven and a half years that a man other than Federer or Nadal was number one.

“Any athlete in the world dreams of being No. 1 in the world. This is something that gives us a lot of motivation,” said Djokovic at the time, when the ATP marked the occasion by giving him a cake in the shape of the numeral “. 1” in the Red, blue and white colors of the Serbian flag. “So finally, when you really do, and when you know that you are the best, it is an amazing achievement.”

Djokovic has won five titles at the All England Club, nine at the Australian Open, three at the US Open and one at the French Open.

His total of 18 individual Grand Slam trophies is only behind the 20 claimed by Federer and Nadal for the men’s brand.

Djokovic has had five separate stints at No. 1 and finished six seasons there, tying Pete Sampras for the oldest.

Sampras held the record for total weeks of 286 until Federer surpassed it in July 2012. Ivan Lendl is fourth with 270, and Jimmy Connors is next with 268.

The ATP presented its computer classifications in 1973.

Djokovic’s championship at Melbourne Park last month ensured him remaining in the number one spot until at least this week and claiming sole possession of Federer’s record.

Djokovic called the achievement of that milestone a “relief” and said it would allow him “to focus all my attention on the Slams, above all.”

“When you go for the number one ranking, you have to be playing all season, and you have to play well; you have to play every tournament,” Djokovic said. “My goals will adapt and change a bit.”

Federer recently spent a week at No. 1 in June 2018. He was 36 at the time and that allows him to hold the record for the oldest man to hold that first spot.

His 40th birthday is August 8.

After two operations on his right knee in 2020, Federer has not competed for more than a year. He is scheduled to return to tour at the Qatar Open on Wednesday.

With so much inactivity, Federer fell to No. 6 in Monday’s standings, trading places with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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