Novak Djokovic moves ahead of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal on massive ranking record

The ATP ranking officially started in 1973, with five dominant players on the year-end no. 1 charts. Jimmy Connors achieved that five times during the 70s, followed by another great American Pete Sampras, who reigned in the 90s to become the only player with six consecutive year-end no. 1 honors between 1993-98. Roger Federer took charge in 2004, and we have seen only four different players at the top in the previous 16 years. The Swiss dominated between 2004-09 to join Connors on five years at the top of men's tennis, followed by Rafael Nadal who had his first brilliant year in 2008, achieving the fifth season as the player to beat a year ago to join Connors, Federer and Novak Djokovic. The Serb has been the dominant figure in men's tennis in the previous decade, accomplishing this four times between 2011-15 and adding another notable season in 2018.

After 2019, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were tied on five year-end no. 1 years, leaving all the rivals far behind and losing the record only once, when Andy Murray overpowered Novak in the closing stages of 2016. In ten of the previous 11 seasons, Rafa or Novak have stood as the year-end no. 1 player, hoping for another battle in 2021. Djokovic has been the most consistent player in the reduced 2020 season, passing Nadal on the ATP throne after Melbourne and never looking back. The Serb melted the deficit to the Spaniard with a brilliant ATP Cup run, beating Rafa in the final and helping Serbi win the inaugural title. At the Australian Open, Novak lifted the eighth trophy following a tight five-setter triumph over Dominic Thiem. Djokovic won another title in Dubai before the coronavirus halted the season until August.

Novak Djokovic joins Pete Sampras on six year-end no. 1 titles.

Continuing where he left, Novak won the 35th Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, moving ahead of Rafael Nadal with another in Rome in September. The Spaniard bounced back at Roland Garros (Novak earned points there too), toppling the Serb in straight sets in the title match but not making the difference on the ATP ranking list. Entering Vienna to secure the record-tying sixth year-end no. 1 honor, Novak reached the quarter-final and lost to Lorenzo Sonego, winning only three games in the toughest loss he has ever experienced on the ATP Tour. Djokovic decided to skip Paris, preparing for the ATP Finals, where he failed to reach the semis a year ago. 

"To finish the year as No.1 is one of the most impressive achievements in our sport, one which requires sustained excellence across the season. To see Novak achieve this for the sixth time and match Pete's record is simply incredible, and he continues to cement his place in the history books," said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2U2a3ad