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Novak Djokovic draws level with Steffi Graf’s record for weeks spent as world No.1

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Tennis legend Novak Djokovic is a week away from another milestone after equalling Steffi Graf’s all-time record for most weeks spent at No.1 of 377.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup following his win in the men's singles final in the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup following his win in the men’s singles final in the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament. Picture: James Ross, EPA

Paris – Tennis legend Novak Djokovic is a week away from another milestone after equalling Steffi Graf’s all-time record for most weeks spent at No.1 of 377.

The 35-year-old Serbian remains top of the latest ATP rankings released on Monday bringing him level with the amount of weeks that Graf spent as women’s world number one.

Djokovic returned to No.1 spot for a seventh time after his victory in the Australian Open at the end of January which was a record equalling 22nd Grand Slam singles title.

Two former world No.1s enjoyed success at the weekend — Daniil Medvedev claiming the Rotterdam title and Carlos Alcaraz making a winning return to the circuit in Argentina.

Medvedev’s three set victory — his 16th career title — over Italian Jannik Sinner sees him return to the top 10 — he rises three spots to eighth.

The losing finalist’s consolation is a climb of two places to 12th in the rankings.

Alcaraz’s successful return to the tour, after almost four months out, in landing the Argentina Open on Sunday sees him solidify his second place in the rankings.

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas — whom Djokovic beat in the Australian Open final — rounds off the top three.

Germany’s former world No.2 Alexander Zverev arrested a decline in his ranking since his comeback after tearing ankle ligaments during last year’s French Open which kept him out of action for the remainder of the year.

The 25-year-old, who also revealed after exiting the Australian Open in the second round he had type 1 diabetes since the age of three, rose one place to 16th after reaching the second round in Rotterdam.

Rankings

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7070 pts

2. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6480

3. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 5940

4. Casper Ruud (NOR) 5515

5. Andrey Rublev 3860

6. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 3815

7. Taylor Fritz (USA) 3660

8. Daniil Medvedev 3250

9. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 3200

10. Holger Rune (DEN) 3161

11. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 2995

12. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 2745

13. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 2615

14. Karen Khachanov 2470

15. Frances Tiafoe (USA) 2350

16. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2320

17. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2285

18. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 1855

19. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 1825

20. Borna Coric (CRO) 1815

AFP

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