Sky’s the limit for Novak Djokovic, say younger rivals

FILE PHOTO: Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 29, 2022 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning the second round against Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Novak Djokovic has shown that age is no barrier and the 35-year-old will continue to break records, says his younger rival on the ATP tour as the Serbian star looks to overtake Steffi Graf as the player with the most weeks at world no. one.

Djokovic won a record 10th Australian Open title last month to equal his great rival Rafa Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam victories and leapfrog Carlos Alcaraz to the top spot in the ATP rankings.

He already holds the record for most weeks as men’s number one after surpassing Roger Federer’s mark of 310 weeks in March 2021 and began his 377th week at the top on Monday to move level with 22-time major champion Graf.

Russian world number five Andrey Rublev said Djokovic has shown that anything is possible.

“And at 35, he can still be the best player in the world and break records,” Rublev, 25, who lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, told reporters in Doha.

“If you do it right, you can do it at the highest level … age doesn’t matter. That’s what it means to me.”

Former world number two Alexander Zverev said Djokovic had shown how consistent he was by dominating his rivals over the last decade.

However, Zverev said seeing Graf lose would be bittersweet for him.

“She surpassed Steffi, so as a German, of course I’m happy she has that record. But credit to Novak, I think she’s great,” said 25-year-old Zverev.

“I’m sure he’ll break a few more records. I’m not sure if there are many, but the ones that are left, maybe he will.”

Djokovic returns to Dubai later this month.

RELATED STORY

Read Next

Don’t miss the latest news and information.

For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.