“Can’t eat or sleep” Novak Djokovic and Pete Sampras disclose the hardships of maintaining the World No.1 ranking


“Can’t eat or sleep” Novak Djokovic and Pete Sampras disclose the hardships of maintaining the World No.1 ranking
Pete Sampras, Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has recently equaled Pete Sampras’ record of ending the year as the World No.1 for six times. The pair has 31 Grand Slam titles between them. Currently, they stand to be the only two tennis players to have finished the season at the top of the stack for a record 6 times.

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While Sampras achieved his record in consecutive years, Djokovic has battled through opponents like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to come back up after losing the lead. Both of these varying circumstances under which these champions have achieved this record is commendable. The ATP organized a virtual meeting between the duo after Novak’s accomplishment.

Sampras discloses the leaps he took to clinch this record

Pete Sampras

Securing the year-end No.1 ranking is one of the greatest achievements in tennis. The importance that is attached to it is partly due to players like Sampras, who went out of their way to compete every week in and out in order to get a hold of this record. However, many loops have to be jumped through to have your name etched under this accomplishment.

Whilst conversing with Djokovic, Pete admitted that the process of achieving this feat for the first time in history “wasn’t much fun.” He had to spend more time away from his family to contend in events in Europe. Further, Sampras added that while being the first player to achieve this record “felt great,” it made him “spent a lot emotionally.”

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Further, Nole agreed when Sampras stated, “Staying number 1 year after year is very hard. I have won a lot of majors. But staying number 1 all those years was my biggest achievement, just to be dominant, to really cement that.”

“You can’t eat or sleep,” How achieving this feat took a toll on Sampras and Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras

To this sentiment of overcoming hardships whilst remaining consistent for the entirety of the year, Novak empathized with. Moreover, he added, “The amount of commitment needed for that in life, how you have to organize yourself… I understand when Pete talked about not eating and not sleeping well. The relationship with the people around you is also difficult. Sometimes you are unbearable to yourself with the amount of nervousness, stress and a tornado of emotions. Six years in a row, I don’t know how you did it, Pete. Huge respect.”

After this honest discussion, Nole will be seen in action at the O2 arena, competing at the Nitto ATP Finals. There’s a possibility that with time, Djokovic will surpass Sampras’ record as well.  

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