On the preceding Monday, Novak Djokovic commenced his 411th week as the top-ranked player in the ATP world rankings. The Serbian athlete, renowned for his record-breaking feats, has his sights set on a remarkable new achievement currently held by Roger Federer.
Djokovic aims to become the oldest tennis player ever to hold the ATP No.1 spot in singles, surpassing Federer’s accomplishment when the Swiss Maestro reclaimed the top position for a brief period in 2018 at the age of 36 years and 10 months.
To achieve this milestone, Djokovic simply needs to maintain his top position until at least April 1st, though he will have additional opportunities if he falls short by that date. Notably, Djokovic faces no point-defense obligations at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. Consequently, he plans to seize these two North American hard-court tournaments to amass maximum points.
These forthcoming events are crucial for Djokovic, who missed both in 2023 due to U.S. entry restrictions at the time, prohibiting foreign citizens without a COVID-19 vaccine. However, Djokovic made a triumphant return to the USA later that year, securing victories at the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and clinching his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Currently, Djokovic is enjoying leisure time with his family before resuming training for upcoming tournaments. He recently took a brief vacation in Italy’s Trentino Alto Adige region, the home turf of his emerging rival, Jannik Sinner. Djokovic won’t be participating in the ATP 500 event in Dubai this year, unlike the previous year, but he eagerly anticipates competing in the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, marking his return after a four-year hiatus.
Djokovic’s last appearance at the BNP Paribas Open was in 2019, where he experienced a surprising third-round exit at the hands of Philipp Kohlschreiber.
