Novak Djokovic continues rewriting tennis historical past even at 39 years outdated following the newest milestone.
The 24-time Main champion grew to become solely the third participant for the reason that begin of the ATP rankings in 1973 to stay contained in the top-5 after turning 39.
Novak Djokovic dancing after his win over Mpetshi Perricard at Roland Garros 🕺🏻
😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/tv8xasDype
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) Could 24, 2026
Djokovic joined two of the best longevity icons the game has ever seen – Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer – on certainly one of tennis' rarest lists. The Australian stays the oldest top-5 participant in ATP historical past.
He achieved the feat at 40 years and 7 months in 1975. Federer stands second, together with his last top-5 look coming in 2021 at 39 years and 6 months. Roger had not performed for the reason that 2020 Australian Open, however he stored his top-5 place for 12 extra months resulting from modifications within the rating guidelines.
Now, Novak has added his personal chapter to that unique membership, competing at Roland Garros as world no. 4 and the 39-year-old.
Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros 2026© Stream screenshot
Djokovic nonetheless competing with the very best
What makes the Serb's achievement much more spectacular is the present bodily depth of males's tennis. The depth is just not there, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz shifting away from everybody else.
Nevertheless, Djokovic stays aggressive in opposition to a lot youthful opponents, sustaining a stage excessive sufficient to maintain himself among the many world's elite gamers regardless of his lowered schedule.
Whereas accidents and bodily struggles have affected him during the last yr, the Belgrade native nonetheless commonly produces sturdy performances on the greatest occasions, having reached 5 straight Main semi-finals!
That potential to adapt his schedule, preserve vitality and peak on the best-of-five-set stage has grow to be one of many defining options of the later phases of his profession. Novak cracked the top-5 in 2007.
Virtually twenty years later, he stays among the many world's best gamers.
Carlos Alcaraz & Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2026© Stream screenshot
Why this file issues
Longevity data usually reveal greater than statistics alone. Remaining contained in the top-5 at almost 40 requires greater than pure expertise – it calls for extraordinary self-discipline, restoration, motivation and psychological resilience over twenty years on Tour.
Not like many former champions who steadily light bodily, Djokovic continues adjusting his recreation and preparation to stay aggressive in opposition to a totally totally different era of gamers.
Novak will attempt to show that age stays solely a quantity in the case of competing for the game's greatest titles, coming into his twenty second Roland Garros and making a profitable begin in opposition to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
