© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Patrick McEnroe says Novak Djokovic sitting on the ATP throne is “exactly where the Serb belongs.” On Sunday, Djokovic wrote more tennis history when he clinched his eighth Year-End No 1 finish – the most in tennis history.
Djokovic, who set a record for the oldest Year-End No 1 in 2021, also broke his own record from two years ago and set a new record for the oldest Year-End No 1 at 36. Throughout the year, Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were changing spots at the world No 1 position.
Alcaraz admitted several times that he badly wanted to beat out Djokovic for the Year-End No 1 award but the 36-year-old Serb didn’t allow that to happen. When the ATP rankings list gets updated on Monday, Djokovic will officially enter his 400th week at the world No 1 position.
“Novak on top of the tennis world….exactly where he belongs,” McEnroe wrote on X.
On top of it as always @AdamZagoria
Novak on top of the tennis world….exactly where he belongs https://t.co/5cfospf19n — Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) November 12, 2023
Djokovic on his eighth Year-End No 1 finish
By beating Holger Rune in his ATP Finals opener, Djokovic officially confirmed he would be the Year-End No 1.
With that, Djokovic extended his all-time Year-End No 1 record to eight. On Tuesday, Djokovic was presented with the 2023 Year-End No 1 trophy. “Obviously it’s the crown of the season, finishing the year as No 1 in the world.
I think it’s a dream of every tennis player. It’s one of the most difficult things to do in our sport. Obviously winning Grand Slams and being No 1 in the world are probably the pinnacles of the sport. It’s been a very long year for all the players and to be able to stand here is a blessing and I want to thank my team, who is here, my coaching staff, everybody, physiotherapist, fitness coach, Goran, Claudio, Marko, Miljan, Mark, Charlie, Carlos, everyone who has been on this road with me.
It’s a team effort even though I’m standing by myself here on the court. But I can’t wait to be celebrating with them. This is a tremendous success and achievement and I’m very proud of it,” Djokovic said after being honored as the 2023 Year-End No 1.
