Novak Djokovic creates a new record, surpasses Rafael Nadal
Follow Us
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
On Monday, Novak Djokovic began his 367th week as the World No. 1. Simultaneously, the Serb climbed to third place on the record of the oldest players to reach the top two in the ATP rankings. Rafael Nadal, who was 34 years and 11 months old when he was ranked No. 2 in May 2021, previously held this position. When the rankings were updated on Monday, Djokovic was 34 years, 11 months, and three days old.
He still has a long way to go to catch up to Roger Federer, who is now in second place. At the age of 37 years and two months, the Swiss was ranked No. 2 in October 2018. Ken Rosewall of Australia holds the all-time record, having reached World No. 2 at the age of 40 years and nine months in August 1975. Djokovic is only second to Federer on the list of the oldest players to be ranked No. 1 in the world (36 years and 10 months).
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic could lock horns in the semi-final of the Madrid Open
Nadal confirmed his return at the Madrid Open earlier on Tuesday. The 21-time Grand Slam champion suffered a stress fracture in his rib earlier this year and hasn’t competed since losing in the final of the Indian Wells tournament to Taylor Fritz. However, being the third-seeded in this tournament, he will receive a bye in the first round and has a nightmarish draw ahead. He will play against Miomir Kecmanovic or Alexander Bublik in the second round. Afterward, he might face Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round to set up a potential quarter-final clash with the Young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
If Rafael Nadal overcomes the storm in form of Alcaraz in the Quarter-final, he might set up a potential semifinal match against Novak Djokovic. The Serb has only competed in three events this year and has yet to win a championship in 2022. Djokovic just lost in the final of the Serbia Open to Andrey Rublev, but he will compete in the Madrid Open to get back on the track.
Novak Djokovic will be the first-seeded at the 2022 Madrid Open and like all Top 8 seeded players at the tournament, he received a bye in the first round and will meet the winner of the match between Gael Monfils and Carlos Gimeno Valero in the second round. In the third round, he might face Denis Shapovalov and in the quarter-finals, he will need to overcome either Casper Ruud, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, or Hubert Hurkacz. Afterward, if things go well he will be squaring off against Rafael Nadal in the semifinal.
The last time both players were in the same draw was at Roland Garros in 2021, where they met in the semifinals. The Serb won in four sets and went on to win his 19th Grand Slam title by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. The pair had previously met in Rome when the 21-time Grand Slam champion defeated the World No. 1 in three sets in the final. However, Rafael Nadal has had a brilliant 2022 so far having won the Australian Open 2022 and many more ATP titles. Therefore, it will be exciting to see the duo facing each other again on the Spaniard’s home ground.
Also Read: Andrey Rublev reveals what Novak Djokovic ‘needs’ to regain his form ahead of the French Open 2022
Stay Updated!
Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)