Novak Djokovic is preparing for the last big event of the year: the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. The Serbian has just won the 40th ATP 1000 tournament of his career in Paris and is undefeated for 18 consecutive matches (he has not lost since the Wimbledon final this summer), but the world tennis leader still has a year ahead of him where he can once again assert his dominance and break 10 historic records.
Novak Djokovic, 36, became the player to have won the most Grand Slam tournaments in 2023, making 24 after winning three of the four prestigious events this year.
In 2024, the Serbian can surpass no fewer than six records set by his great rival Roger Federer and win the Olympic title for the first time, the only one he is missing.
Novak Djokovic’s numbers
Flashscore/AFP
Here are 10 records that Nole could add to his list by the end of next season:
1. Oldest Grand Slam winner in the Open era
Born May 22, 1987, Djokovic will be 37 years, three months and four days old at the start of the US Open next year, and if he manages to win the final he will become the oldest Grand Slam winner in the world. ‘history.
The current record belongs to Australian Ken Roswell, who won the 1972 Australian Open at the age of 37 years, one month and 24 days. He beat his compatriot Mal Anderson in three sets, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5, and has held the age record among Grand Slam winners for more than five decades.
2. Most Wimbledon titles (tied with Roger Federer)
Nole could have equaled the record for titles won on London turf this year, but Carlos Alcaraz prevented him from doing so for the moment.
In an epic final, the Spaniard won in five sets, 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, Djokovic’s only Grand Slam defeat this year.
The Serbian holds seven Wimbledon titles, one less than Roger Federer, but 2024 could be the year when… The two men have faced each other no less than three times in the final in London, won each time by the Serbian who, since 2018, has never failed to reach the final (in 2020 the tournament did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic).
3. Oldest Wimbledon champion of the Open era
If he manages to win Wimbledon next year, Djokovic will not only equal Federer in number of titles, but will also become the oldest player to win on London grass in the Open era.
In 2017, he was 36 years and 173 days old when he lifted the trophy reserved for the champion after a breathtaking final against the Croatian Marin Cilic, whom he had beaten in three sets, 6-3, 6- 1, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have played in three finals at Wimbledon.
AFP
To become the oldest player in history to win at Wimbledon, however, Djokovic will have to wait. He probably won’t be able to retain this title, as that would mean he would have to win the tournament in 2029, at the age of 42.
Indeed, in 1909, at a time when tennis was not a game like any other, the British Arthur Gore won Wimbledon at the age of 41 years and 184 days.
4. Most US Open titles (tied with Federer, Connors and Sampras)
6-3, 7-6, 6-3 was Novak Djokovic’s score in this year’s US Open final against Russian Daniil Medvedev. This is his fourth success on the hard court at Flushing Meadows, but each time there has been a break of at least three years between the triumphs.
His first title dates back to 2011, in a final against Rafael Nadal. For his second he had to wait until 2015, when he beat Roger Federer, and his third came in 2018 following a duel with the Argentinian Del Potro.
But to match Federer, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras in the number of titles won, Djokovic will have to do something he has never done before, namely win at Flushing Meadows twice in a row.
5. Win every Grand Slam tournament at least four times
By winning at Roland Garros, Djokovic would set a record that has everything to last for decades. The Serbian would become the first player in history to triumph at least four times in each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
It is true that clay is the surface on which he is least comfortable. Three of their five defeats this year came on this surface, in Rome, Banja Luka and Monte Carlo.
He won at Roland-Garros in the final against the Norwegian Casper Ruud, after taking advantage of the health problems of the Spaniard Alcaraz in the semi-final to reach the last round, but above all of the absence of the “king of clay”, Rafael Nadal, whose health problems seem likely to prevent him from returning to the courts very soon.
It won’t be easy for Djokovic to defend his title in Paris, but if he succeeds, he will make history.
6. Most Grand Slam quarter-finals
It’s not the most spectacular, but it may be the most within Djokovic’s reach in 2024. The Serbian has reached the top eight places at major tournaments no less than 57 times, with only Federer having a better record ( 58).
By reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Nole would therefore equal the Swiss, and at Roland Garros, he could already be the leader of this top. The Serb already holds the record for the number of semi-finals (47) and finals (36).
7. Most Grand Slam wins
Another record within the Serb’s reach. His 27 Grand Slam triumphs in 2023 bring him to 361.
Once again, Roger Federer holds supremacy with 369 victories, meaning that if all goes according to plan, Nole could overtake him on the clay of Paris.
8. Most matches played in Grand Slam
To become the player who has played the most Grand Slam matches, Djokovic needs 21 more matches.
This is no surprise: Federer is still the leader with 429 matches, while the Serb has played 409 so far. As a Grand Slam can be played in a maximum of seven matches, Djokovic could break the record in the Wimbledon final, provided he has won the previous two Grand Slams and repeats his performance this year on the London turf. Otherwise, the US Open could be the opportunity for him to take first place in this chapter.
9. First player in history to win every ATP 1000 tournament at least three times
It is not only in the Grand Slam tournaments that Novak Djokovic can break records, but also in the Masters 1000. As noted above, the Serbian has already won 40 titles in the nine Masters tournaments, but he does not has only won one twice: Monte-Carlo.
Djokovic wins the 40th Masters of his career in Paris
AFP
This year he lost in the second round to Italian Lorenzo Musetti, but success in 2024 in the Principality would mean another difficult performance to achieve in the near future.
10. Most hard court titles of all time
Finally, a tenth record that Djokovic could break in 2024 is that of the number of titles held on hard courts. This is not necessarily the most brilliant record that can be achieved, but it is another opportunity to surpass Roger Federer.
The Swiss has 71 titles on this surface, while Nole’s 69 are already close behind him.
2023-11-08 16:49:47
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