Most titles, most weeks at No. 1, most Grand Slams - what records will Novak Djokovic break after Australian Open?
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Updated 03/02/2023 at 11:53 GMT
Novak Djokovic could finish his career with the most Grand Slams, most titles and most weeks as No. 1, but which of the records are most achievable and how many years might he need to continue to break them? Djokovic won his 22nd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open to move level with Rafael Nadal in the all-time standings. It was also his 93rd career title and moved him back to world No. 1.
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If records are there to be broken, then Novak Djokovic looks right now like he might be the man to do all the breaking.
Djokovic’s victory at the Australian Open moved him level with Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slam titles. That number is the highest ever in the men’s game and is one behind the Open era record held by Serena Williams, and two behind Margaret Court’s all-time record.
And it’s not just winning the most Grand Slam titles that Djokovic has in his sights – there’s also the record for most titles won and most weeks spent as world No. 1.
How close is Djokovic to breaking each record? And how likely is it he will break them all?
Connors’ title record still some way off
Djokovic won title No. 93 of his career at the Australian Open.
The victory breaks him away from a tie with Nadal in the all-time standings and moves him closer to the next man in the list: Ivan Lendl.
One more title will move Djokovic level with Lendl on 94, then it’s only Roger Federer (103 titles) and Jimmy Connors (109 titles) out in front.
Is catching Federer a possibility for Djokovic? And what about surpassing Connors’ record?
History would suggest probably not, but Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have rewritten enough history over the last 15 years to show that it is far from impossible.
Federer didn't stop winning titles until he turned 38, with his last trophy coming in Basel in 2019. Soon after that he made the semi-finals of the ATP Finals and the semis of the Australian Open the following year.
In his 2019 season Federer won four titles in total and made the final at Indian Wells and Wimbledon. He also won four titles in 2018. In 2017, when he turned 36 midway through the year, he won seven titles, which was his highest total since 2007.
Djokovic turns 36 this year.
If he was to enjoy the same success as Federer did at this exact same stage of his career then Djokovic would finish this season with 98 titles. Eight more over the next two years would move him to 106, ahead of Federer and three behind Connors.
If that sounds comfortably done, there are other factors that could go against Djokovic.
The main one right now appears to be his vaccination status.
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Djokovic missed out on chunks of the 2022 season as he was unvaccinated so couldn’t travel to Australia or North America. He travelled back to Australia this year, but the US still remains uncertain
But then Djokovic still won five titles last year even with the travel restrictions, finishing the year with aplomb as he swept up trophies in Tel Aviv, Astana and Turin, and almost adding another in Paris, where he made the final.
If Djokovic wins five titles again this year – which seems a conservative total right now considering he already has two and looks as good as ever – then he would finish 2023 with 96. If he continued at the same rate of five every year he would need to keep going for at least another three seasons to get close to Connors.
Grand Slam record in sight
How likely is it that Djokovic continues deep into his 30s?
Speaking at the Australian Open it doesn’t sound like he has plans to stop anytime soon.
“I am motivated to win as many Slams as possible. At this stage of my career, these trophies are the biggest motivational factor of why I still compete,” he said after the final.
“I never really liked comparing myself to others, but of course it's a privilege to be part of the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time. If people see me this way, of course it's very flattering because I know that I give as much effort and energy into trying to win Slams as anybody else.
“I still have lots of motivation. Let's see how far it takes me. I really don't want to stop here.
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“Physically I can keep myself fit. Of course, 35 is not 25, even though I want to believe it is. But I still feel there is time ahead of me. Let's see how far I go.”
Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic was asked how long he thinks the world No. 1 will continue to pursue major titles. “Definitely two, three more years. The way he is taking care of his body, the way he approaches everything, the food, it’s amazing.”
The positive for Djokovic is that although he might be 35, an age where tennis players are usually expected to start slowing down, on the court he can sometimes look far more youthful.
You only have to watch a handful of points from the Australian Open to see that he remains incredibly athletic, quick, agile, and flexible. There can’t be many other players who at 35 – or even younger – can almost do the splits to lunge for balls.
“How young does he look out there?” exclaimed Eurosport expert Mats Wilander after watching Djokovic at the Australian Open. “He’s not 35, something is wrong with his passport for sure, his birth certificate is wrong! I mean, 35, looking like that!”
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It would be fascinating to know whether Djokovic has a number in his head of how many Grand Slam titles he would like to win. One more will draw him level with Williams, who holds the Open era record on 23. Two more would put him equal with Court’s all-time record of 24. Would getting to 25 satisfy Djokovic to the point where motivation levels might drop a little? How much more fire will there be to continue stacking up majors when all the records are broken?
Nick Kyrgios said after the Australian Open that he can see Djokovic getting to 28 Grand Slam titles.
Eurosport expert John McEnroe said he can win “at least three more”. That seems eminently gettable considering Djokovic could well win two or three of the next four.
Djokovic set to break Graf’s No. 1 record
Djokovic’s win at the Australian Open has moved him back up to world No. 1 and he looks set to break the all-time record for most weeks at the top of the rankings in February.
He already holds the record among men (his 374 weeks putting him well clear of second-placed Federer on 310) and is closing on Steffi Graf’s all-time record of 377 weeks. If he stays No. 1 through the week of February 20 he will tie Graf's record, and if he remains at the top for a further week he will break it.
The only points Djokovic has to defend before the end of February are 90 points from making last year’s Dubai quarter-finals. Djokovic looks set to play next in Dubai, which starts on February 27.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is 340 points behind Djokovic and there is the chance that the pair could start the week of February 27 with the same number of ranking points. For that to happen Alcaraz would need to win on his expected return to action at the Argentina Open and also win the Rio Open, where he is defending champion. However, even if they are level on points Djokovic would still be No. 1 as he has accrued more of his points from Grand Slams, Masters and the ATP Finals than Alcaraz.
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