Novak Djokovic closes a season as number one in the world for the sixth time in his career, the ATP reports on Friday evening. The Serbian thus equals the record of his youth idol Pete Sampras.
Djokovic could only theoretically lose the first place to Rafael Nadal. For this, the Spaniard had to participate in the ATP tournament in Sofia next week. However, he decided not to do so.
In 2011, Djokovic topped the world rankings for the first time in his career at the end of the season. The seventeen-time Grand Slam winner also achieved this in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018. Record holder Sampras ended the year from 1993 to 1998 as number one.
“Pete was someone I looked up to when I was growing up,” says Djokovic on the website of the ATP. “So it is a dream come true to match his record. I also continue to strive to become a better player, have even more success and break more records in a sport that I love.”
Nadal and Roger Federer both led the ATP ranking five times after the last tournament. At the end of last season, the Majorcan took first place. In the past ten years, Andy Murray was the only other player besides Djokovic and Nadal to finish the year in the top position.
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Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open for the eighth time at the beginning of this year. (Photo: Pro Shots)
Djokovic lost three matches this season
Due to the corona pandemic, Djokovic played far fewer tournaments than usual this year. He did win the Australian Open and won the tournaments in Rome, Cincinnati and Dubai. The number one in the world also reached the final battle of Roland Garros, in which he had no chance against Nadal.
Last week, Djokovic suffered his third defeat of the year. He only took three games in Vienna against the Italian ‘lucky loser’ Lorenzo Sonego. In September, he lost a game for the first time this season when he was disqualified at the US Open for hitting a ball against a linesman.
Djokovic will close the season in a week and a half with the ATP Finals in London, the prestigious end-of-year tournament in which the eight best players of the season compete against each other.
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