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Novak Djokovic breaks record for oldest No. 1 in ATP rankings history at 36 years young

He surpasses the previous record set by Roger Federer, who was also 36 when he last held the top spot in 2018.

ByJohn Berkok

Published Apr 07, 2024

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Over the last few months, Novak Djokovic has reached a number of No. 1 ranking milestones—200 more weeks at No. 1 than any other active player and 100 more weeks at the top spot than any other player in ATP rankings history, to name just a few of them.

Today, though, he breaks a No. 1 ranking record: Djokovic is now the oldest player to be ranked No. 1 in ATP rankings history.

As of Sunday, April 7th, 2024, Djokovic is 36 years and 321 days young, which surpasses Roger Federer’s mark of 36 years and 320 days when he spent his last day at No. 1 on June 24th, 2018.

Only eight players have been ATP No. 1 in their 30s: Djokovic (36), Federer (36), Andre Agassi (33), Rafael Nadal (33), John Newcombe (30), Jimmy Connors (30), Ivan Lendl (30) and Andy Murray (30).

And there’s more: Djokovic not only holds the record for oldest player ever to be ranked No. 1 in ATP rankings history, but also in ATP or WTA rankings history. The women’s record is 35 years and 230 days—that one belongs to Serena Williams, when she spent her last day at the top of the WTA rankings on May 15th, 2017.

Only three players have touched the WTA No. 1 ranking in their 30s: Williams (35), Chris Evert (30) and Martina Navratilova (30).

Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slams last year, and four of the last six Grand Slams he's played.

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Djokovic holding No. 1 at age 36 is even more incredible given he’s been posting world class results since he was a teenager.

He first reached the Top 10 in March of 2007 at age 19—one of only 21 teenagers ever to break into the ATP Top 10—and a few weeks later he won his first Masters 1000 title in Miami. He then reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2007 US Open, at age 20, then a few months later won his first Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open.

That was all more than 16 years ago, and he’s been piling up the numbers ever since then, year-in, year-out—he now has a record 24 career Grand Slam titles and 40 career Masters 1000 titles.

Djokovic first rose to No. 1 in 2011 at age 24, and this week he’ll be spending his record-extending 420th career week at the top spot.

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