On Monday, Novak Djokovic commenced his 411th week as the top-ranked player in the ATP world rankings. The Serbian athlete, who continues to break records and achieve remarkable feats, has his sights set on a new and extraordinary accomplishment currently held by Roger Federer. Djokovic aims to become the oldest tennis player in history to hold the ATP No.1 position in singles, surpassing the Swiss Maestro’s achievement in 2018 when he reclaimed the top spot at the age of 36 years and 10 months.
To achieve this milestone, Djokovic must maintain his position until at least April 1st. However, he will have multiple opportunities to reach this goal even if he falls short by that date. Djokovic will not be defending points at the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. Consequently, he plans to utilize these two events on the North American hard courts to accumulate the maximum possible points.
These two tournaments are the ones Djokovic is expected to participate in before April 1st. In 2023, Djokovic was unable to attend both events due to the entry regulations in the United States at that time, which prohibited foreign citizens from entering the country without a COVID-19 vaccine. However, he made his return to the USA during the summer and emerged victorious in the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, followed by his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Before resuming his preparations for upcoming tournaments, Djokovic enjoyed a brief vacation in Trentino Alto Adige, Italy, along with his family. This region happens to be the birthplace of his new rival, Jannik Sinner. Upon his return, Djokovic will not be participating in the ATP 500 event in Dubai, as he did last year. Instead, he will be competing in the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, marking his first appearance in the tournament in four years.
Djokovic’s most recent match at the BNP Paribas Open took place in 2019, where he suffered a surprising defeat in the third round against Philipp Kohlschreiber.