Novak Djokovic says he will 'keep going' after US Open win
Novak Djokovic is just one win away from breaking Rodger Federer’s record of most top 10 wins in a calendar year, but insists that 2023 isn’t the best year of his career. The Serbian tennis star is on course for another record-breaking season having impressed with three Grand Slam titles although he maintains that he can still improve.
Djokovic drew level with Federer’s record on Sunday at the ATP World Tour finals in Turin. The World No. 1 defeated World No. 8 Holger Rune in a thrilling first evening session.
The pair took the first two sets to a tie-breaker – Djokovic claiming the first before his younger opponent levelled – but it was the Serbian who came back to win the last set 6-3. The result will see the 36-year-old end the year as the top-ranked male player for a record-extending eighth time having fended off Carlos Alcaraz’s attempts this year.
Djokovic now has a chance to beat Federer’s record on Tuesday (Nov. 14) when he face’s Italy’s World No. 4 Jannik Sinner. But despite being on the cusp of making history, the 24-time Grand Slam champion claims that he hasn’t enjoyed the best year of his career.
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“One of the best years,” the Serbian said following his win over Rune when asked how this season compares to previous ones. “I wouldn’t say the best, but one of the best.
“I mean, the fact that I’ve won three out of four Slams and played a final [in] the fourth and it’s still not the best year of my life, it’s quite nice to have that kind of situation.”
It’s the third time in his career that Djokovic has reached all four Grand Slam finals in a season, while its the fourth time he has claimed three of the sport’s premier events in a calendar year. The current US Open, French Open and Australian Open champion went on to claim that this year’s triumphs are special, but he had performed better in previous seasons on the whole.
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“It’s definitely one of the best seasons. I mean, I had couple of years, I think three [other] times, that I won three out of four Slams in a season, like 2011, 2015. In those years, I won more matches. I mean, I played more tournaments. I was really, I mean, feeling very dominant on the tour.”
“It’s quite different circumstances this year comparing to all the other years because I played, what, 10, 11 tournaments this year. I played very well – least of anybody. I just managed to peak at the right tournaments, at the right time. That’s what matters to me really.
“I mean, Grand Slam season, one of the best for sure. Overall, especially in the last couple months, I haven’t lost a match since Wimbledon, so I’ve been feeling great on the court and playing really well. But it’s hard to compare.”
Djokovic has won six titles this year, including two more Masters wins to take him to a record breaking 40 for his career, and his win on the opening day means he as the top ranked male player.
Djokovic is next in action when he faces Jannik Sinner in the next round of the ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday (Nov. 14). A win there will mean he has beaten his top 10 rivals on 15 occasions in 2023 – further proof of his dominance.
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