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Djokovic separating himself from the greats

  • Matt Trollope

US Open champion Novak Djokovic is increasingly without peer when it comes to his statistical achievements.

In June, we published “Novak’s numbers” after his historic triumph at Roland Garros, and now, he’s elevated himself to an even higher plane thanks to his latest victory in New York.

Djokovic now owns 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player in the Open era.

He separated himself from Serena Williams, who won 23, and equalled Margaret Court’s all-time record – spanning both the amateur and professional eras – of 24.

Djokovic has given himself the opportunity to take sole ownership of the all-time record at the Australian Open – a tournament he has won the past four times he has played.

His US Open victory means he has won three majors in a single season, four times. Prior to 2023, he also did so in 2021, 2015 and 2011.

No man has ever done this; Roger Federer managed to do so in three separate seasons.

Novak Djokovic has won three major titles in 2023, (from L-R) at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open. [Getty Images]

Djokovic’s 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 win over Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final meant he won all three of those 2023 major finals in straight sets – another Open-era first among men.

At 36 years, 3 months, Djokovic is the oldest US Open men’s singles champion in the Open era, a distinction he also achieved at Roland Garros with his 2023 title in June.

No other player is the oldest champion at more than one major. The others are:

•    Australian Open – Ken Rosewall: 37 years, 2 months (in 1972)
•    Wimbledon – Roger Federer: 35 years, 11 months (in 2017)

Djokovic’s US Open final was his record-extending 36th appearance in an Open era major final. Chris Evert is second-placed on the list (34), while Federer is the next best man (31).

Incredibly, this means that he has reached the final at half of the Grand Slam tournaments (72) he has played.

By beating Ben Shelton in the semifinals, Djokovic became the first male player in the Open era to reach 10 men's singles finals at multiple Grand Slams.

RELATED: The rise of Ben Shelton

He is also a 10-time Australian Open finalist, with a perfect 10-0 record in those finals.

A round earlier, with victory over Taylor Fritz, Djokovic notched a 47th Grand Slam semifinal appearance – more than any other man in history.

That meant he had reached the semifinals at all four majors in 2023, the sixth season in which he'd achieved such a feat. This is another Open-era men's record.

Regardless of the stage of the tournament, Djokovic was creating history in New York.

Novak Djokovic wins the US Open, his 24th Grand Slam singles title
Novak Djokovic won his fourth US Open title, and 24th Grand Slam singles trophy overall. At age 36, he has now won seven of the past 10 majors he has played. [Getty Images]

His first-round win over Alexandre Muller was his 67th consecutive win in the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament. It is the longest streak of any man in the Open era, eclipsing Federer’s second-best streak of 65.

Djokovic has not lost in the first round of a major tournament since Australian Open 2006.

With the title, Djokovic improved his win-loss record at the hard-court majors – the Australian and US Opens – to a collective 177-21.

That success rate of 89.4 per cent is, again, the best of any man in the Open era.

BEST PERFORMED PLAYERS AT HARD-COURT MAJORS

 

Win-loss

Win %

Novak Djokovic

177-21

89.4%

Roger Federer

191-29

86.8%

Pete Sampras

116-18

86.6%

Jimmy Connors

67-11

85.9%

Ivan Lendl

105-18

85.4%