Novak Djokovic confirms ATP No. 1 presented by FedEx award

Novak Djokovic took the sixth ATP No. 1 presented by FedEx award following an excellent performance in 2020. The ATP ranking started in 1973, with five players commanding the year-end no. 1 charts. Jimmy Connors achieved the honor five times during the 70s, followed by Ivan Lendl in the 80s and another great American Pete Sampras, who reigned the 90s to become the only player with six consecutive year-end no. 1 awards between 1993-98. Roger Federer took charge in 2004, and we have seen only four different players at the top in the previous 16 seasons. The Swiss was the player to beat between 2004-09, joining Connors on five years at the top of men's tennis. Rafael Nadal had his first brilliant year in 2008, followed by 2010, 2013 and 2017. The Spaniard secured the fifth season as the player to beat a year ago to match Connors, Federer and Novak Djokovic.

The Serb has been the dominant figure in men's tennis in the previous decade, accomplishing the year-end no. 1 award four times between 2011-15 and adding another notable season in 2018 from outside the top-20! 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. Djokovic has been the most consistent player in the shortened 2020 season, passing Nadal on the ATP throne after Melbourne and never looking back to achieve a massive ranking milestone and prepare another one.

Novak Djokovic secures sixth ATP No. 1 presented by FedEx award.

The Serb melted the deficit to the Spaniard with a brilliant ATP Cup run, beating Rafa in the final and delivering the inaugural title for Serbia. Novak lifted the eighth Australian Open crown thanks to a tight five-setter triumph over Dominic Thiem, keeping 2000 points and taking the ATP throne.

Djokovic won another title in Dubai before the coronavirus pandemic that ended his streak at the beginning of the season. Continuing where he left in January and February, Novak won the 35th Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, moving ahead of Rafael Nadal with another in Rome a few weeks later. Djokovic's first mistake of the season came at the US Open, experiencing the first default in a career against Pablo Carreno Busta and missing a chance to fight for the 18th Major title. It came a month later at Roland Garros, where Novak reached the final, facing Rafael Nadal in what should have been a thrilling encounter.

Instead of that, Rafa beat Novak in straight sets to secure the 20th Major title, leaving Novak on one Major crown in 2020 and staying three titles in front of him in the GOAT race. Entering Vienna to secure the record-tying sixth year-end no. 1 honor, Novak reached the quarter-final and lost to Lorenzo Sonego, suffering the toughest loss in a career and bouncing back at the ATP Finals to advance into the semis. In one of the best matches of the season, Djokovic lost to Dominic Thiem despite a massive advantage in the deciding tie break, ending the season and setting eyes on more notable results in 2021.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3nIOdFU