Novak Djokovic continues to show the bravery and admirable endurance of a living legend of contemporary tennis.
The Australian Open 2026 final closed with a defeat to Carlos Alcaraz after four sets, but the journey at Melbourne Park still has special meaning for the Serbian player.
The accumulated points have helped Djokovic officially return to the top 3 ATP, something he has not done since the end of 2024.
At the age of 38, Djokovic became the 2nd oldest player in history to ever be in the world's top 3.
This achievement is only behind Ken Rosewall's record set in 1975, and also helped "Nole" surpass the milestone that once belonged to Roger Federer.
Surpassing his arch-rival makes this milestone even more meaningful in Djokovic's already massive career.
The Australian Open 2026 also marks the 11th time Djokovic has reached the final of a Grand Slam tournament on hard courts in Melbourne.
Going deep has brought important ATP points, in the context that many direct competitors cannot defend their achievements.
Alexander Zverev, runner-up last season, stopped from the semi-finals, thereby creating conditions for Djokovic to improve his position in the rankings.
Notably, the latest successes came to Djokovic when he actively played more selectively than in his previous peak period.
In the last 12 months, the Serbian player has maintained stability with a Grand Slam final, three Grand Slam semi-finals, an ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami, and ATP 250 titles.
At Melbourne this year, the victory over Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals continues to affirm Djokovic's ability to adapt and tactical depth when facing the energetic younger generation.
Although he has not yet reached his 25th Grand Slam, returning to the top 3 in the world shows that Djokovic is still a name that cannot be underestimated in any major tournament.
