Novak Djokovic already owns the record for the most weeks at No. 1 by a singles player across both tours, but he is now on the cusp of an extraordinary feat.
Djokovic was crowned as the oldest ATP year-end No. 1 at the end of last season for a record-extending eighth time, beating closest rival Carlos Alcaraz to that accolade. Djokovic hasn't slowed the wheels even as he approaches the age of 37.
He remains in hot pursuit of a mindboggling 11th Australian Open, which would put him on level terms with Australian tennis great Margaret Court. He'll also become the first tennis player to rack up a quarter of a century of Grand Slam singles titles.
The stakes have never been higher for Djokovic, who has won the battle but not the war at the 2024 Australian Open so far. He was instilled as the tournament's top seed, but Djokovic was not certain to keep the No. 1 ranking at the end of the fortnight.
He was locked in a three-way fight with Alcaraz and World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev. But both of his rivals can no longer eclipse him in the points tally by the end of the month, simply because Djokovic remains in active competition and is due to play a blockbuster semifinal against Jannik Sinner on Friday.
With the World No. 1 ranking secured, irrespective of what happens between now and the end of the Australian Open, Djokovic will not relinquish that spot for at least another month. Having tallied his 409th week, Djokovic will clock his 410th week next Monday.
That would represent a gap of 100 weeks between him and retired rival Roger Federer, who is the closest man for the most weeks at No. 1 behind Djokovic. Additionally, Djokovic could conquer two more milestones in the coming months.
By March 25th, if he is still No. 1, Djokovic will register a 418th week at the summit, which would be the equivalent of eight full years as the world's best player. And he'll also break Federer's record for being the oldest ATP No. 1 by April 1st.
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