Rusedski: 'Novak Djokovic will take ranking records from Roger Federer, Pete Sampras'

World no. 1 Novak Djokovic will chase two incredible ranking records. In March, Novak should pass Roger Federer and become the player with most weeks as world no. 1. If he embraces another season at the top, Novak will also become the first player in the ATP ranking history - since 1973 - with seven year-end no. 1 honors, currently sharing the chart with Pete Sampras, who is also on six. Greg Rusedski believes Novak Djokovic will grab both achievements in the upcoming year, recognizing the Serb as the player to beat for another season. Djokovic took the sixth ATP No. 1 presented by FedEx award following an excellent performance in 2020. Since 1973, five players have dominated the year-end no. 1 list. Jimmy Connors achieved the honor five times in the 70s, followed by another great American Pete Sampras, who was the player to beat between 1993-98 90s to become the only player with six consecutive year-end no. 1 awards.

Roger Federer joined the party in 2004, and we have seen only four different players at the top in the previous 16 seasons! Novak Djokovic has been the dominant figure in men's tennis during the last decade, accomplishing the year-end no. 1 award four times between 2011-15 and adding another in 2018 from outside the top-20! After 2019, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were tied on five year-end no. 1 seasons, leaving all the rivals far behind and losing the record only once, when Andy Murray overpowered Novak in the closing stages of 2016. Djokovic was 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. The Serb kicked off the season ranked second behind the Spaniard, reducing the deficit at the ATP Cup and taking the throne following Nadal's quarter-final loss and his eighth Australian Open crown.

Novak Djokovic will chase two major ranking records in 2021.

Djokovic won another title in Dubai before the coronavirus pandemic 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 after beating Diego Schwartzman. Djokovic's first failure of the season came at the US Open, experiencing the career's first default against Pablo Carreno Busta and missing a chance of chasing the 18th Major title. Another came a month later at Roland Garros when 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 did enough by reaching the quarter-final, showing little effort against Lorenzo Sonego and experiencing one of the toughest losses in a career. Wrapping up the season at the ATP Finals in London, Novak advanced into the semi-final and had a 4-0 lead in the deciding tie break against Dominic Thiem, losing ground after that and failing to reach the final. Djokovic currently trains in Belgrade ahead of the Melbourne trip, leading his country at the second ATP Cup and entering the first Major of the season from February 8.

"I believe that Novak Djokovic will beat Pete Sampras and Roger Federer on ranking records," Greg Rusedski said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/38H4t45