Novak Djokovic made tennis history on Saturday as he secured his place as the year-end world No. 1 for the record seventh time.
With his 3-6 6-0 7-6 victory over Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals of the Paris Masters, Djokovic moves clear of Pete Sampras, who finished the year as world No. 1 six times between 1993 and 1998.
The 34-year-old Djokovic, who went on to defeat Daniil Medvedev 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the Paris Masters final on Sunday, has previously been crowned the year-end No. 1 in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020.
“Just proud and extremely happy,” was Djokovic’s reaction to the record.
“Obviously that was one of the biggest goals and it’s always one of the biggest goals, to try to be No. 1 and end the season as No. 1.”
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He added: “To do it for the record seventh time and surpass my childhood idol and role model, Pete, is incredible. Very grateful, very blessed to be in this position.”
Earlier this year, Djokovic broke Roger Federer’s record of 310 combined weeks as the men’s world No. 1 – a feat he told CNN was “like a crown of all the achievements that I had in last 15 or 15 plus years of [my] professional tennis career.”
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His victory over world No. 2 Medvedev, a repeat of this year’s men’s US Open final when Medvedev ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a calendar grand slam, also sees 20-time grand slam champion Djokovic break another record in Paris by moving clear of Rafael Nadal with his 37th Masters 1000 title.
It was a record-extending sixth title at the Paris Masters for Djokovic.
