Tennis legend, and 24-time Grand Slam winner, Novak Djokovic shared a thrilling piece of news. Instead, he revealed chasing the world number one ranking is no longer his main focus. Currently 37th at age 36, Djokovic is now focusing on major tour wins this year instead of retaking No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Following a decisive 6-1 7-6 third-round victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli at the Miami Open, Djokovic expressed that the allure of ranking points has waned in the twilight of his illustrious career.
Despite having spent more than 400 weeks at the top of the world rankings, Djokovic now finds himself ranked fifth. He remains focused on winning Grand Slams and other significant tournaments, acknowledging the added difficulty of securing the top ranking compared to earlier in his career.
Redirected Goals
Djokovic's focus is clear: perform at his peak during Grand Slam events and select tournaments. The Serbian tennis icon had explained that his schedule will be clearer going forward, with more focus on quality rather than quantity.
"My objective is to be able to play my best tennis at the Grand Slams and the tournaments where I participate. My schedule is revised, so obviously I'm not chasing ranking points." – Djokovic
This tactical adjustment speaks to Djokovic’s commitment to continue raising the performance ceilings. Meanwhile, he’s dealing with the realities of an accelerating, dangerous career.
Eyeing Historic Milestones
Even if Djokovic has recalibrated what he is chasing though, he is still within striking distance of all-time historic feats. His most recent victory in Miami advances him to within two titles of his 100th singles title. Few players in the history of the game have pulled off this amazing accomplishment. Although this has already been surpassed by Jimmy Connors’ 109 titles and Roger Federer’s 103, there is no dimming of Djokovic’s competitive fire.
"It would definitely be amazing to get to that record," – Djokovic
Remarkably, Djokovic earned his record 411th ATP Masters 1000 match win on Sunday, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.
Embracing the Challenge
Though Djokovic admits that reaching the top ranking is more challenging now than before, he continues to find joy in competing. His respect for figures like Connors and Federer reflects his understanding of the sport's history and his place within it.
"But again, it's probably more difficult to achieve that nowadays for me than maybe it was some years ago. I'll go step by step. I'll see. I don't know how long I'm going to compete for. But I'm still enjoying myself when I play well." – Djokovic
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