Alongside many other achievements, Novak Djokovic secured another massive ranking record on Monday. The 24-time Major winner joined Rafael Nadal at the top of the list with 596 top-2 weeks, following his most significant rival on a notable accomplishment.
Djokovic is skipping this week’s Cincinnati Masters, losing 1000 ATP points and putting his top-2 streak in danger. If Carlos Alcaraz reaches the quarter-final, he will pass the Serb, preventing him from taking the record away from Nadal.
Novak is the defending US Open champion, having to defend 2000 ATP points in New York if he wants to stay in touch with Alcaraz and Sinner. At 37 years and two months, Djokovic is the second-oldest top-2 player, passing Roger Federer and standing only behind Ken Rosewall.
Novak cracked the top-3 in July 2007, standing as the closest rival of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Serb had a couple of chances to enter the top-2 and make another step on the list.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Matthew Stockman / Staff – Getty Images Sport
However, he wasted them and waited until February 2010 to finally separate Federer and Nadal and start his top-2 journey.
Djokovic had three top-2 runs that year, still finishing third on the year-end ranking list. Novak made a perfect start to the 2011 season, leaving everyone behind and settling in the top-2 in March. The era of the mighty Serb became, and he embraced 325 consecutive top-2 weeks, staying there until May 2017 and almost breaking Federer’s record.
Struggling with an elbow injury, Novak could not challenge the rivals from the top in the next 12 months, dropping out from the top-20 and showing return signs in May 2018. Djokovic conquered Wimbledon and the US Open in the upcoming months, performing an incredible comeback and embracing another top-2 streak in October.
Novak was a player to beat in the forthcoming years, adding 169 consecutive top-2 weeks to his tally until June 2022 and moving closer to Nadal and Federer.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal share the record with 596 top-2 weeks.
Djokovic embraced another incredible season in 2023, stopping the clock and lifting three Major titles from four finals.
The Serb secured his eighth year-end no. 1 honor, keeping much younger opponents behind and writing history. Novak could not keep that pace in 2024, although he did enough to add more top-2 weeks to his tally and match Rafa. Djokovic lost the Australian Open title to Jannik Sinner, suffering the only Melbourne loss following the quarter-final.
Sinner outplayed Djokovic in the semi-final, offering the legend no break points and sealing the deal in four sets after a rock-solid display. Novak fell to Luca Nardi in Indian Wells and suffered the semi-final loss to Casper Ruud in Monte Carlo, still seeking his first top-10 triumph of the season.
Djokovic did not improve his level in Rome and Geneva, falling to lower-ranked opponents and gathering dark clouds over his Roland Garros campaign. As it turned out, Novak felt the pain in his right knee, which worsened following two marathons on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Djokovic ousted Lorenzo Musetti and Francisco Cerundolo before withdrawing ahead of the quarter-final duel with Casper Ruud, experiencing a setback and undergoing surgery on June 5.
The legend started the battle against time ahead of Wimbledon, hitting the gym a week later and traveling to London. Novak entered the draw with a protection on his knee and wished for the best. Djokovic passed a couple of challenging rivals in the opening week, avoiding five-setters and preserving his knee.
The veteran outplayed the young guns, ousting Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti for a place in another Wimbledon final. Like a year ago, Carlos Alcaraz proved too strong for the Serb in the title clash, earning a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 victory and keeping Novak away from his 25th Major crown.
Novak was pleased with his result, given all the circumstances. He took a couple of days off in Montenegro and started preparations for the most important tournament of the season at the Olympic Games.
Carlos Alcaraz & Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Matthew Stockman / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Djokovic made a strong start against Matthew Ebden and Rafael Nadal before ousting Dominik Koepfer for a place in the quarter-final.
Novak faced Stefanos Tsitsipas in a battle for the semi-final and felt the pain in his knee in the second set. The Greek led 4-0 and 5-2, missing three set points on serve before the Serb performed a comeback and sealed the deal in straight sets, taking necessary rest and preparing for the semi-final duel versus Lorenzo Musetti.
Djokovic broke Musetti five times in a row from the end of the opening set, scoring a 6-4, 6-2 victory and arranging the title clash versus Carlos Alcaraz. Two great competitors embraced two tie breaks and fought for two hours and 50 minutes in the match of the tournament.
They saved all 14 break points, 13 in the opening set, and stayed neck and neck from start to finish.
Djokovic survived eight break points in the opening set, passing all the challenges and saving his best tennis for the tie break.
The Serb gathered a boost and pushed his young rival in set number two. Alcaraz saved a break point in the early stages and remained competitive until the second tie break, a must-win one for him. However, Novak fired up his forehand and clinched it 7-2, sealing the deal and starting a massive celebration of the only notable title missing in his collection. Djokovic took a well-deserved rest after Paris, missing Montreal and Cincinnati ahead of the US Open.