Djokovic no1 confirmed

The Dom, Cristal or Krug can now be popped open. The ATP has confirmed that Novak Djokovic will end the year as world No.1. Maybe he will send a bottle to Rafa Nadal as a thank you.

It marks the sixth time Djokovic has achieved this important honour. It allows him to tie the record that was set by his childhood hero Pete Sampras from 1993 to 1998, the only man who has done it six consecutive years

“Pete was somebody I looked up to when I was growing up, so to match his record is a dream come true,” Djokovic said. “I will also keep striving to be a better player, hopefully have more success and break more records in a sport I love with all my heart.”

Novak was confirmed as year-end No.1 when Nadal elected not to take a wild card into the Sofia Open in Bulgaria. If he had done that it would have kept the race open. Rafa, along with Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors, has five year-end No.1 honours.

An additional honour for Djokovic is that at 33 years of age, it makes him the oldest year-end No.1.

This marks the 16th time in the last 17 years that the year-end No.1 has been claimed by one of the “Big 3”, the exception was Andy Murray in 2016

It was on 21st September, just before Roland Garros began, when Djokovic passed Sampras’ tally of 286 weeks at No.1 and now the only man ahead of him for most weeks at No.1 is Federer who sits with the record at 310 weeks.

It is expected that Nole will pass that milestone on 8 March 2021.

His next event is the ATP Finals in London which he will try to win for a record-equalling sixth time.