NEW YORK (AP) — The assumption, at least by many, was that
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer would cede the stage by now and make room at the top of men's tennis for other players to begin accumulating Grand Slam titles.
Well,
Federer retired, and
Nadal missed nearly all of this season with a hip problem that he expects to end his career after one last hurrah in 2024. Djokovic? He just keeps on going at age 36, dominant as ever.
As of Monday, Djokovic is
back at No. 1 in the ATP rankings and the owner of
24 major championships, a record for the Open era and
tied with Margaret Court for the most in the history of tennis. Djokovic's U.S. Open title, which arrived Sunday
, gave him three Slam trophies this season, each by beating a much younger opponent in the final.
Before facing Medvedev, Djokovic was asked whether he finds it unusual that he is still doing what he is doing, against the new generation. The answer, essentially, was "No." And, frankly, no one else should be shocked by it one bit, either.
"It probably sounds cocky or arrogant, but I'm not really surprised, because I know how much work and dedication and energy I put into trying to be in this position. So I know that I deserve this. I always believe in myself, in my own capabilities, in my skills, in my quality as a tennis player to be able to deliver when it matters," Djokovic said. "So I'm not really surprised, to be honest with you. Because I feel good. Physically I have been as fit or as prepared, as strong as — I don't want to say ‘as ever,' but — I mean, as good as I have been in years and years."
He went 27-1 at the majors in 2023, losing only in
July's Wimbledon final in five sets against 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz (whom, it should be noted, Djokovic beat in the Cincinnati Masters final last month and just replaced at No. 1).
In
January's Australian Open final, Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas. In
June's French Open final, he got past Casper Ruud. Both were 24 at the time. Medvedev is 27.
"So 'age is just a number' — that phrase is resonating at the moment with me," Djokovic said. "And I don't want to even consider leaving tennis or thinking about an end if I'm still at the top of the game."
Of course not. Why should he?
Over his career, Djokovic has won exactly a third of the 72 Slams in which he's participated. After going 12-9 in Grand Slam finals during his 20s — when the losses came against Federer, Nadal, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka — he is 12-3 in his 30s, with losses against Nadal, Alcaraz and, at the 2021 U.S. Open, Medvedev.
