Novak Djokovic embraced a 37-9 rating in 2024. He lifted one ATP title from three finals, conquering the Olympic Video games and including the lacking fifteenth notable trophy to his unimaginable assortment. Novak wrapped up the 12 months ranked seventh and wrote historical past books.
The legend collected his seventeenth year-end top-10 season, leaving Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors on 16. The 24-time Main winner is the third participant with 17 year-end top-10 honors, standing one behind his closest rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Federer embraced his seventeenth year-end top-10 12 months following an amazing run in 2019. Nonetheless, he injured his knee originally of 2020, ruining the closing phases of his profession. The Swiss secured one other year-end season because of the rating modifications regardless of taking part in just one match.
— The Olympic Video games (@Olympics) September 5, 2024
Nadal adopted the tempo of his nice rivals and joined him on 18 year-end top-10 finishes in 2022. The Spaniard clinched two Main crowns within the first a part of the 12 months and missed an opportunity to change into world no. 1 at 36. Rafa struggled with accidents within the second a part of 2022.
He skilled a extreme hip damage on the 2023 Australian Open and missed alternatives so as to add extra year-end top-10 finishes to his tally. Novak Djokovic didn’t embrace a full schedule this season, specializing in the Olympic Video games.
Novak Djokovic, Geneva 2024© Stream screenshot
Nonetheless, he did sufficient to increase his year-end top-10 streak, lacking it solely as soon as since 2007 on account of an damage. At 37 years and 7 months, Djokovic is the third-oldest year-end top-10 participant after Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer.
Novak will play extra tournaments in 2025, specializing in Majors and in search of one other sturdy run at 38. If he manages one other year-end top-10 end, the Serb will match his biggest rivals on the high of the charts.
Novak Djokovic’s year-end top-10 saga. When did it begin?
As we mentioned, Novak wrapped up the season within the top-10 in 17 of the earlier 18 years, lacking it in 2017 on account of elbow points. Djokovic cracked the top-10 in March 2007, two months earlier than his twentieth birthday.
He conquered his first Masters 1000 crown in Miami and have become the third-strongest hyperlink on the Tour behind Federer and Nadal. Seventeen years later, Novak remains to be among the many world’s greatest gamers, accumulating over 850 top-10 weeks!
Djokovic stayed close to the highest between 2008 and 2010. He earned the Davis Cup crown for Serbia and have become a participant to beat in 2011. Novak began the season with 43 consecutive victories and have become world no. 1 after conquering his first Wimbledon title.
“He was definitely very today” 🔥
Novak Djokovic recognised how particular Carlos Alcaraz was in the present day on Centre Courtroom 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/zVXFSg64pd
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
The Serb secured his first year-end no. 1 season and have become essentially the most constant participant of the earlier 14 seasons. Djokovic completed 555 consecutive top-10 weeks till November 2017. He skipped the second a part of the 12 months on account of elbow points, ending outdoors the top-10 for the one time since 2006.
The Serb required time to return to his greatest following essentially the most prolonged break of his profession. He kicked off the 2018 season with a 6-6 rating earlier than conquering Wimbledon and returning to the top-10. Djokovic celebrated his three hundredth consecutive top-10 week this season.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
Thus, he turned the one participant with two streaks of 300 top-10 weeks. Novak wrapped up the season on the high and battled with Rafael Nadal in 2019. He completed behind the Spaniard earlier than retaking the ATP throne in February 2020, holding it for 2 years.
In the mean time, he handed Roger Federer and have become the participant with essentially the most no. 1 weeks in ATP historical past. Novak couldn’t play at two Majors in 2022, wrapping up the season ranked fifth after a robust end.
2023 masterpiece and Olympic Video games glory
There was nothing to cease Novak in 2023, successful three Main crowns from 4 finals and terminating the GOAT race! The Serb left the younger weapons behind, lifting seven ATP titles and securing his eighth year-end no. 1 honor at 36!
Djokovic additionally celebrated his four-hundredth world no. 1 week, establishing a report that may take some beating sooner or later! Leaving Rafael Nadal behind, Novak couldn’t repeat that tempo in 2024, specializing in the Olympic Video games and reaching solely three finals.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
The veteran misplaced crowns at Wimbledon and the Shanghai Masters to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Nonetheless, he clinched essentially the most desired one in Paris, turning into the Olympic Video games champion at 37 and proudly proudly owning all 15 notable tennis trophies.
Novak injured his proper knee throughout Roland Garros. He handed Lorenzo Musetti and Francisco Cerundolo in 5 units earlier than withdrawing forward of the quarter-final. Djokovic underwent surgical procedure on June 5 and recovered forward of Wimbledon.
Like a 12 months in the past, the Serb reached the ultimate on the All England Membership and fell to Carlos Alcaraz in straight units. Nonetheless, he drew constructive vibes forward of his second journey to Roland Garros, motivated to hunt an elusive title.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
Djokovic dropped one sport towards Matthew Ebden within the first spherical and confronted Rafael Nadal within the second. He ousted his nice rival 6-1, 6-4, constructing an enormous benefit earlier than sealing the take care of a late break within the second set.
Novak defeated Dominik Koepfer and reached the final eight, shifting nearer to a medal. The Serb felt ache in his troubled knee towards Stefanos Tsitsipas. He struggled within the second set however carried out a comeback after saving set factors, sealing the deal and preserving his knee.
In search of his first win within the Olympic Video games semi-final after three losses, Djokovic took down Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-2. Novak stole Lorenzo’s serve 5 occasions in a row, taking cost from the closing phases of the opening set and shifting excessive.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
The veteran chased his first Olympic Video games gold medal towards the highest favourite, Carlos Alcaraz. Novak stopped the clock and produced an exciting 7-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 52 minutes, incomes essentially the most desired trophy of his profession.
Two nice rivals embraced a memorable duel, defending all 14 break factors and pushing one another to the boundaries. Djokovic felt the stress within the opening set, heading off seven break factors in two difficult video games. He reached a tie break and outplayed the younger gun for an enormous increase.
Novak didn’t face a break level within the second set. Carlos saved one, and so they stayed neck and neck till one other tie break. The Serb fired up his forehand and left the Spaniard behind, sealing the deal and beginning an enormous celebration.
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
Djokovic couldn’t discover motivation for the remainder of the season. He misplaced to Alexei Popyrin on the US Open and performed just one match by the top of the 12 months. The veteran reached the Shanghai Masters closing, securing his year-end top-10 standing and skipping the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.
What the long run brings for Novak? The Serb is motivated to chase extra Main titles in 2025 and problem Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. One factor is certain. We must always by no means depend him off, particularly on essentially the most notable scene.
