“If it was Nadal or Federer it would be permanently highlighted” Alex Corretja lashes out on tennis community for ignoring Novak Djokovic’s week record as World No. 1
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Alex Corretja and Novak Djokovic
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has had a rollercoaster time on the Tour since the last season. From reaching all 4 Grand Slam finals last year and winning 3 of them only to miss out on the US Open, the Serbian had a change of fortune as he was not even allowed to participate at the 2022 Australian Open for exercising his right to remain unvaccinated against Covid-19.
With the ATP Tour set to complete 3 months of action, Novak has played only 1 tournament, the 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships. Despite this, the Serbian has continued to hold onto his World No. 1 ranking. While he was dethroned by Daniil Medvedev for 2-weeks in March, Novak is back on top after Medvedev’s early exit from the 2022 Indian Wells Masters.
Having already broken Roger Federer‘s record of 310 weeks at the top, Novak is the only male player to have spent more than 350 weeks at the top of the rankings and continues to extend that record. Only Steffi Graf with 377 weeks at the top of the rankings is a Pro with a better record than that of Novak as no other player, male or female, has breached the 350-weeks mark.
“And it is unfair. Because if that record was held by Rafa or Federer, it would be emphasized all the time as something inaccessible, insurmountable… Djokovic is not raised to the altars because he generates a lot of controversies and because there are many people who do not agree with his way of living life. That should be standalone. If you want to value what his sporting work is, you have to value his sporting successes,” said former French Open runner-up and Andy Murray‘s ex-coach Alex Corretja speaking with Jotdown.
Novak Djokovic might be replaced from the top once again later this week
As Djokovic ascends to the top once again, he extends his lead for the most weeks spent at the top to 362 total weeks. With the 2022 Miami Masters being played right now, Novak is guaranteed another week as the rankings will be updated after the tournament concludes. Novak’s non-vaccination status however sees him forced to miss the tournament as the USA does not allow unvaccinated foreigners.
Medvedev stands a chance to return to the top if he makes it to the semi-finals in Miami where so far in his career, he is yet to cross the quarter-finals stages of the tournament now being played on the courts in Miami Gardens.
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Sarthak Shitole
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