ATP Tennis: Most weeks as World no.1, Novak Djokovic equals Roger Federer
Novak Djokovic is slowly but surely taking over most records in men’s tennis. His most recent achievement is equaling Roger Federer as the player to have spent the most number of weeks as World no.1. Djokovic and Federer are both on 310 weeks now.
Federer is set to return to the tour this month, but he is lagging way behind in the points tally. And it will take Federer more than one good showing to get back his throne. Novak surely will build on that lead too once he recovers from that abdominal injury and comes back on tour.
The only real competitor that Djokovic has is Rafael Nadal. With the clay court season coming up, if Nadal can notch up a few titles he can actually push Novak and claim that no.1 spot.
Novak Djokovic today draws level with Roger Federer – World No.1 for 310 weeks.
Next week, he will hold the men’s singles record on his own.
Three women have held it longer.
1. Steffi Graff – 377 weeks
2. Martina Navratilova – 332 weeks
3. Serena Williams – 319 weeks
Over the years competition among peers has improved Tennis players
Djokovic has in the past admitted that Federer has forced him to become a better player. The same goes for Federer too, who was forced to improve his one handed backhand under pressure from Rafael Nadal.
In the past, the 80’s stars Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl have all improved each other inadvertently.
That’s the reason why the list is dominated by clusters of players from a certain era.
Tennis in 90’s meant Sampras vs Agassi
In the 90’s, ask Andre Agassi and he will tell you his returns improved once he started to play Pete Sampras regularly. Pete Sampras, the mild mannered man from the USA had a gun serve, and because of that also called ‘Pistol Pete’. The two played each other 34 times with Pete Sampras winning 20 of those encounters.
ncG1vNJzZmiemafAtb%2FPqKmtsl6YvK57wK2nZqyVo7uqv4ympqysXayyprfSZpisZaekv62wjKemZmldo7y3rcpmm6Onm6TDqq%2BMnqiumZyoerO7xp6pZp6VmbKzsdFo