According to the latest ATP men's singles rankings announced, Novak Djokovic ranked 2nd with 8,460 points, behind Jannik Sinner (8,770). With this position, the 24-time Grand Slam winner reached a remarkable milestone, with 596 weeks in the Top 2.
This achievement is equal to Rafael Nadal, who is currently almost unable to extend his parameters while outside the Top 100 (158).
However, Djokovic's ability to surpass Nadal is also being questioned, even though he only needs next week to set the record.
The reason is that after winning the 2024 Olympic gold medal, Djokovic decided to withdraw from the Cincinnati Masters tournament. The Serbian tennis player is the defending champion of this tournament, so not competing cost him 1,000 points.
Therefore, his 2nd place was threatened by Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard currently has 7,950 points and if he reaches the quarterfinals of Cincinnati, he will take Djokovic's second place early next week.
Djokovic is the US Open champion, so he will also have to defend 2,000 points in New York if he wants to compete for the No. 1 position with Alcaraz and Sinner. At 37 years and 2 months, Djokovic is the second oldest player in the Top 2, surpassing Roger Federer and second only to Ken Rosewall.
Nole began reaching the Top 3 in July 2007, becoming a rival of Federer and Nadal. The Serbian tennis player had several chances to enter the Top 2 and take the number 1 position.
However, he could not take advantage and waited until February 2010 to separate Federer and Nadal to start his Top 2 journey.
Djokovic reached the Top 2 three times that year, still ranked third in the year-end rankings.
Novak had a perfect start to the 2011 season, leaving everyone behind and settling in the Top 2 in March.
The Serbian tennis player's era came and he held 325 consecutive weeks in the Top 2, maintaining that position until May 2017 and almost breaking Federer's record.
Struggling with an elbow injury, Djokovic was unable to challenge opponents over the next 12 months, dropping out of the Top 20. Signs of his return came in May 2018.
Djokovic conquered Wimbledon and the US Open in the following months, staging an incredible comeback and maintaining another string of Top 2 weeks in October.
He became the target to beat in the following years, with another 169 consecutive weeks in the Top 2, until June 2022 and getting closer to Nadal and Federer.
Djokovic had another incredible season in 2023, winning three of four Grand Slam titles. He ended the year with his 8th year-end No. 1 title.
In 2024, although he will not win any title until the 2024 Olympics, Djokovic still has enough points to keep himself in the Top 2 to currently be equal to Nadal.
