Coco Gauff's coach Brad Gilbert has called Novak Djokovic's accomplishments this season the best by a male player on the ATP Tour in the last 50 years.
Djokovic celebrated a record-setting eighth year-end No. 1 ranking on Monday when he was presented with the trophy by ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi during a brief ceremony at the ATP Finals in Turin. It came less than 24 hours from his epic win over Holger Rune at the tournament.
The victory cemented Djokovic's place in top spot ahead of Carlos Alcaraz and broke his own record of becoming the oldest year-end No. 1 at 36. The Serbian was ecstatic after putting together another year for the history books, winning half of the tournaments he played in 2023.
Djokovic owns the joint-most ATP titles this season despite playing the fewest number of tournaments of any Top 10 player. He compiled a 27-1 record in Grand Slams, winning the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. Additionally, he was a runner-up at Wimbledon.
It is the fourth time in his career he's won three of the four majors in a season (2011, 2015, 2021 & 2023), and is the only man to pull this off. The ATP Tour was formed five decades ago, and the celebrated American coach Brad Gilbert believes this is the best season yet not only for Djokovic but for a male player in the past 50 years.
"This is the 50th year of the ATP Tour. @DjokerNole his amazing 8th number one finish, 27-1 in slams, missed 4 hardcourt 1000 hasn’t lost before finals since May, at 36 years young I will put this as the best year potentially on men’s tour in 50 years."
Aside from dominating the Grand Slams, Djokovic also became the first man to win 40 Masters 1000 titles, following successes in Cincinnati and Paris-Bercy. And he's guaranteed to eclipse the 400-week as the No. 1 after the ATP Finals.
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