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Novak Djokovic has started well his 378th week on the throne, the absolute record. In retirement from the circuit since his title at the Australian Open, Nole experienced a complicated first round but still avoided the trap of the Czech qualifier Tomas Machac, 130th in the ATP. The latter took Djokovic to the tie-break in the third set. But Novak was able to find the mental solutions to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1). Still undefeated in 2023, Djokovic has not been beaten since his final in Bercy and now has an 18-match winning streak. He will face Tallon Griekspoor in the second round this Wednesday.
On Tuesday evening, Djoko first came back on his copy. “I’m still finding my best level. I know that after an injury, I need some time and a few matches to really find the rhythm and intensity on the court and find good movements. Tonight I made a lot of unforced errors that put me in trouble. I have to give him credit too, he surprised me. I had never played him before. I did my analysis of his game and prepared well, but he hit his shots very well, especially his backhand, serve and volley. He didn’t miss a single volley. It was amazing, he played at a very good level and I had to earn that win. I played a pretty perfect tie-break with some good shots. I’m very happy to get a win like this after almost four weeks without competition.”
Afterwards, the Belgrade native of course went back to his new record number of weeks as world number one, surpassing Steffi Graf with 378 weeks at the top. “When I reached world number one for the first time in 2011, I had to set new goals, new dreams. Being No. 1 has always been the ultimate goal, it’s the ultimate accomplishment in tennis, without a doubt. I’ve always tried to stay there as long as possible. I think playing well, staying relatively healthy throughout my career and not having too many major injuries has allowed me to have the consistency to accumulate a lot of points.
I am very proud of this achievement. I will be 36 soon, so I don’t think getting more weeks is the top priority right now. I’d like to stay healthy and extend my career as long as possible to play at the highest level. That’s the only priority. The other priority is to play the best Grand Slam tennis, trying to win more Grand Slams. Then, if the world number one comes, it will be the consequence of good results and I will be very happy. As far as the Olympics are concerned, I am looking forward to it. I hope to be healthy for the Olympics next year in Paris. They will be played on the clay court at Roland Garros, so I know those courts well and I hope that’s where I will get the best Olympic result.”
