The records continue to tumble for Novak Djokovic now can set his sights on extending his place in the record books.
While the world No 1 has confirmed that hanging onto that top ranking is no longer on his list of priorities, he could now be presented with a chance to push for another remarkable milestone given the unfortunate setbacks for his rivals in recent weeks.
World No 2 Jannik Sinner has tested Djokovic in their recent meetings, as he has won three of their last four matches, including an impressive victory in the Australian Open semi-finals last January.
Sinner also won titles in Rotterdam and Miami this year, edging him up to second place in the rankings for the first time and opening the door to ousting Djokovic from top spot in Rome next week.
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Yet his injury has ended that dream for now, with Sinenr’s next big chance to get to the top of the ATP Rankings and become the first Italian player to achieve that is on hold for now.
Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of a return to the top of the ATP Rankings have also suffered a hammer blow, with his ongoing forearm injury problem seeing him pull out of tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, while it affected his performance in his defeat against Andrey Rublev in Madrid.
World No 3 Alcaraz has now pulled out of the Italian Open and has to be a doubt for the French Open later this month, with his fitness levels unlikely to be at their peak even if he plays in Paris.
Djokovic has points of his own to prove after a challenging start to the year that has seen him fail to win a title and suffered some unexpected defeats.
Yet the Serbian legend has stated on numerous occasions that his chief targets for this year after the French Open and Wimbledon titles, as well as the Olympic Games in Paris.
“I don’t feel like I’m chasing anything now. I feel like I’m creating. That’s kind of a mindset I have,” said Djokovic.
“Of course, my greatest motivation is still love for the game. I really like competing. So as simple as that. Then, you know, I always have goals, you know, and to win another slam, to be No. 1 again, to finish the year as No. 1. Those are let’s say the big goals.
“I don’t feel like I’m chasing anything now. I feel like I’m creating. That’s kind of a mindset I have,” said Djokovic.
“Of course, my greatest motivation is still love for the game. I really like competing. So as simple as that.
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“Then, you know, I always have goals, you know, and to win another slam, to be No. 1 again, to finish the year as No. 1. Those are let’s say the big goals.”
The challenge of playing week after week on the ATP Tour has been highlighted by the fitness issues afflicting Sinner, Alcaraz and Medvedev, with their bodies letting them down at a pivotal phase of the year.
Djokovic will need to raise his game to cash in on the misfortune of his big rivals, with some of his performance this year at a depleted level that will give lower-ranked players a chance to beat him.
Yet over a best-of-five-set format at the French Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic will fancy his chances of getting back onto the top step of winners’ podium at a time when the other member’s of the current top four in the rankings are all struggling.
Sinner’s absence from the Rome Masters ensured Djokovic will toast his 37th birthday as world No 1.
If he can win the French Open and Wimbledon once again this summer, it could give him a platform to aim for another year-end world No 1 ranking, with his weeks at the top after the age of 30 now up to a remarkable 200.
He will not retain the world No 1 ranking heading into the French Open, ensuring his run at the top of the ATP list will be stretched to at least 428 weeks.
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Djokovic would need to continue his career well into 2026 to have a chance of holding the world No 1 spot for what would previously have been viewed as impossible 500 weeks, but anything is possible from this remarkable champion.
