Novak Djokovic: The numbers and stats behind his 378 weeks as world No. 1 after breaking Steffi Graf’s record

Having already held the record for most weeks as No. 1 on the ATP Tour – by now well clear of second-placed Roger Federer (310 weeks) and third-placed Pete Sampras (286 weeks) – Djokovic has now reached 378 weeks, passing Steffi Graf’s all-time record of 377, which has stood since she retired in 1999.

It’s a significant achievement in Djokovic’s career.

Djokovic placed high importance on breaking Federer’s record, so much so that he adjusted his schedule after doing so, trimming it slightly to primarily focus on winning more Grand Slam titles.

That he has played fewer events – sometimes out of choice, sometimes due to Covid-19 regulations – and has still passed Graf for most weeks as No. 1 is a testament to his quality.

We break down the numbers behind Djokovic’s record-breaking time at the top of the ATP rankings.

Weeks as world No. 1: 378

Djokovic has spent more time at the top of the rankings than Graf, Federer, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, and Pete Sampras. He’s had 169 more weeks as No. 1 than Rafael Nadal and more than doubled John McEnroe’s total of 170 weeks.

Djokovic first got to world No. 1 in the summer of 2011, having spent most of the previous three years behind Federer and Nadal in the rankings.

He held the top spot for a year, then lost it to Federer, then won it back, then lost it, then got it back again and had his longest continuous run of 122 weeks as world No. 1. When his streak ended in 2016 it was Andy Murray who took over, and after that, the No. 1 spot changed hands between Nadal and Federer before Djokovic became No. 1 again in November 2018.

All of which is to say, Djokovic’s record has been set during an extremely competitive period.

Most weeks at world No. 1 in history

Since Djokovic first became world No. 1 in 2011, Federer spent only 25 weeks at the top of the rankings. Nadal had 107 weeks as No. 1 over the same timeframe and Murray had 41 weeks.

In arguably the most high-quality era in tennis history, Djokovic has spent far more time as world No. 1 than all of his main rivals. That clearly speaks to high-level consistency, mastering all surfaces across the season, handling the pressure of being at the top of the game, and being able to evolve.

Djokovic’s ability to win on hard courts, clay and grass has been key to him beating Graf’s record. He is the only male player to have won all nine of the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and has done so twice. He is one of only three players to have won the French Open more than once this century – along with Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten – and has excelled on grass and on hard courts.

It seems likely that Djokovic would have spent even more time at the top if he hadn’t missed several tournaments over the last two years due to being unvaccinated.

Djokovic has also spent 147 weeks as No. 2 and 152 weeks as No. 3.

Longest stretch as world No. 1: 122 weeks

Djokovic’s longest run at No. 1 was between July 2014 and November 2016.

He took over at the top after winning his seventh Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. He rounded off the 2014 season by winning the China Open, Paris Masters and ATP Finals. He was No. 1 for the entire 2015 season, which is regarded to be one of the finest of his career as he won three Grand Slam titles and the ATP Finals, as well as making the French Open final. Djokovic continued to stay as No. 1 until Murray went on a tear in the second half of 2016 and got to the top spot for the first time in Paris.

Shortest stretch as world No. 1: 12 weeks

The start of 2022 was a tricky time to track the No. 1 ranking.

Djokovic remained No. 1 despite not playing in the Australian Open, but then lost it on his return in Dubai. Daniil Medvedev’s time as No. 1 lasted just three weeks before a shock defeat to Gael Monfils at Indian Wells saw it handed back to Djokovic, who again wasn’t playing the tournament because of his vaccination status.

Djokovic spent 12 weeks as No. 1 before slipping down to No. 3 following his quarter-final loss at the French Open. Medvedev reclaimed the top spot with Alexander Zverev at No. 2, making it the first time since November 2003 that none of the ‘Big Four’ occupied the first two spots in the rankings.

Grand Slam titles won as world No. 1: 13

Djokovic has won 13 of his 22 Grand Slam titles after starting the tournament as world No. 1.

The first Slam he won as world No. 1 was the 2011 US Open when he beat Nadal in four sets in the final.

Djokovic started out at world No. 5 for his most recent major win at the Australian Open while the lowest he has been ranked when winning a Grand Slam was at Wimbledon in 2018.

Djokovic went into the tournament as world No. 21 and became the lowest-ranked man to win Wimbledon since Goran Ivanisevic, now Djokovic’s coach, in 2001, when he was world No. 125.

Djokovic has returned to world No. 1 several times after winning a Grand Slam, including after this year’s Australian Open, the 2020 Australian Open, and Wimbledon 2014.

Will Djokovic get to 400 weeks as No. 1?

Daniil Medvedev said in early 2021 that Djokovic is “definitely capable of catching 400 weeks” as world No. 1, and he’s closing on the milestone.

Djokovic was at 311 weeks when Medvedev said he could get to 400, and now he needs just 28 more to reach it.

If he is able to play the Sunshine Double he will most likely extend his lead as No. 1 over Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas. However, if he doesn’t play then Alcaraz and Tsitsipas could have the chance to overtake him, although Alcaraz has plenty of points to defend over both tournaments.

Different stretches as No. 1: Seven

Djokovic is into his seventh different stretch as world No. 1.

When he first got to No. 1 in 2011 he spent 53 weeks at the top, then 48 in his next spell, before his longest streak of 122 weeks.

In recent years the No. 1 has changed hands more often. Djokovic held it when the season was paused due to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, then took it back after a short stint from Daniil Medvedev in early 2022. Djokovic lost it that summer and has only just reclaimed it after Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz both had time at the top.

Year-end No. 1 finishes: Seven

Djokovic holds the ATP record for finishing the most seasons ranked at world No. 1.

By winning the ATP Finals in 2022 he claimed his seventh year-end No. 1 finish to break a tie with Sampras and move two ahead of Federer, Nadal and Connors.

Biggest drop from No. 1: Five weeks outside the top 20

Since breaking into the top 10 for the first time in 2007, Djokovic has only had spent around a year outside of the top 10.

In 2018 he dropped out of the top 20 for the first time in 12 years following elbow surgery and some of the most inconsistent performances of his career.

He was back in the top 10 by August and reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking after the Paris Masters, two years after he had lost it to Murray.

Oldest world No. 1 ever?

At 35 years and nine months old, Djokovic is currently the second-oldest world No. 1 in history.

Federer holds the record for being the oldest as he was 36 years and 10 months old when he was last dislodged from the top spot on June 18.

For Djokovic to pass Federer he would need to be No. 1 again after April 2024.

Williams holds the record for the oldest WTA No. 1 at 35 years and four months.

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