Novak Djokovic becomes oldest player to finish a year in the Top 4 in ATP rankings history

This week on Tennis.com, we’ll be featuring five storylines—one a day—that came out of the ATP and WTA’s year-end rankings.

Yesterday, we kicked things off with 2025 being the first year since 2004 that four American women finished inside the Top 10.

Today, an ageless wonder breaks yet another record.

Last week, we covered how Novak Djokovic finishing the year at No. 4 was historic, as it was his 16th Top 4 finish, passing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most Top 4 finishes in ATP rankings history.

But there's more.

At 38 years and 5 months at the time of the ATP's 2025 year-end rankings, which came out on November 17th, Djokovic is also the oldest player to finish a year in the Top 4 in ATP rankings history.

He surpasses Federer's previous record of 38 years and 3 months.

PLAYERS AGE 35+ TO FINISH A YEAR IN THE TOP 4 IN ATP RANKINGS HISTORY (since 1973, listed by age):

• 38y/5m: Novak Djokovic in 2025 (No. 4)
• 38y/3m: Roger Federer in 2019 (No. 3)
• 37y/3m: Roger Federer in 2018 (No. 3)
• 36y/6m: Novak Djokovic in 2023 (No. 1)
• 36y/6m: Rafael Nadal in 2022 (No. 2)
• 36y/5m: Rod Laver in 1974 (No. 4)
• 36y/3m: Roger Federer in 2017 (No. 2)
• 35y/3m: Jimmy Connors in 1987 (No. 4)

As shown in the above chart, Djokovic (twice), Federer (three times) and Laver, Connors and Nadal (once each) are the only players to finish a year in the Top 4 after turning 35 in ATP rankings history.

But finishing in the Top 4 after turning 30 is still very rare—Djokovic is one of only 14 men to do that, and he's now done it the second-most times, passing Connors and Nadal and trailing only Federer.

MOST TOP 4 FINISHES AT AGE 30+ IN ATP RANKINGS HISTORY (since 1973):

• 7: Roger Federer [2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019]
• 6: Novak Djokovic [2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025]
• 5: Jimmy Connors [1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987]
• 5: Rafael Nadal [2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022]
• 3: Andre Agassi [2001, 2002, 2003]
• 2: Stan Wawrinka [2015, 2016]

Eight other players did it once: John Newcombe and Rod Laver in 1974; Arthur Ashe in 1975; Ilie Nastase in 1976; Guillermo Vilas in 1982; John McEnroe in 1989; Ivan Lendl in 1990; and David Ferrer in 2013.

Djokovic's 2025 season was highlighted by reaching the semifinals of all four Grand Slams and capturing the 100th and 101st tour-level titles of his career in Geneva and Athens. The 24-time Grand Slam champion also reached the 60th Masters 1000 final of his career in Miami and his 80th Masters 1000 semifinal in Shanghai.

Tomorrow, a player keeps a historic streak alive...