As another ATP season ends, time continues to tick for the seasoned campaigners aged 30 and above on the men's tour.
This exclusive club (players aged 30 or older) featured just 21 players in the world's Top 100. By contrast, players within the 19-25 age range accounted for nearly half of the Top 100 spots, most of whom are in the upper echelons of the sport (Top 10).
However, the old cliche that tennis is a young man's game isn't a sporting truism, based on the fact that the world's top-ranked tennis player is 36-year-old Novak Djokovic. Not only that, but Djokovic also dominated his younger rivals for top honors this season.
The Serbian ace was comfortably the highest-ranked 30-plus player across both tours. What is even more bewildering is that he only played 12 ATP events in 2023 and still topped the podium on seven occasions. He won the most titles of any singles player in 2023.
Djokovic played in all four Grand Slam finals last season, winning three and finishing as runner-up in the fourth. He also earned the highest prize money and is the first player in tennis history to cross the $180 million mark.
The younger players have stepped up in 2023 - with Carlos Alcaraz winning Wimbledon and Jannik Sinner capturing his first Masters 1000 title. The pipeline from college tennis to the pro tour has been rekindled, too, with Ben Shelton enjoying a meteoric rise.
All these signs point to the diminishing number of veterans within the 30-38 age bracket. Stan Wawrinka, the oldest player in the Top 100, didn't win a title last season.
Physically, Djokovic may not be as efficient as ten years ago (not that he has shown any lack of mobility or flaws), but he has been winning mental battles against his younger peers. His vast knowledge, experience, and skill have given him a significant strategic edge.
Djokovic has never declared himself the GOAT, even though he's got all the numbers and the records to rest his case. And if there is another landmark achievement worthy of consideration among the sporting greats, he beat his record for the oldest ATP year-end No. 1 this season.
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