Novak Djokovic: Change is coming to the rankings, it's inevitable

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has acknowledged the recent success of the younger generation of players in the tennis circuit and is highly impressed with them. According to the Serbian Tennis star, a shift in the favour ATP rankings seems “inevitable”.

Since Djokovic won the Cincinnati Open in August last year, the last four ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, the most prestigious events after the four Grand Slams in the sport, have seen champions from the younger generation.

The 25-year-old Russian Daniil Medvedev won the ATP Finals and the Paris Masters titles (November 2020) last year to replace Spaniard Rafael Nadal from the No. 2 position in rankings. Poland’s 24-year-old Hubert Hurkacz, Greece’s 22-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas and Germany’s 24-year-old Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Austria’s Dominic Thiem won the US Open last year.

The 33-year-old Serbian No.1, at the Rome Masters on Monday (May 10), told reporters that these results show how a shift in rankings is already underway.

“There are guys like Tsitsipas, Zverev, (Matteo) Berrettini, (Andrey) Rublev that are winning against all of us and playing a lot and building their ranking points,” he added.

“Medvedev as well, of course, and challenging for the top spots. Dominic Thiem has been there for many years.

“It’s inevitable that it’s going to happen. The change on the men’s rankings, top of the rankings is coming. Whether it’s going to happen in a month or a year or whatever, I don’t know.”

Djokovic, who has won 18 Grand Slam titles to his name, is only 2 shy of former World No.1 Roger Federer. While the Swiss maestro was sidelined with injury for 14 months, Djokovic surpassed his record for holding the No.1 position for the most no. of weeks.

The Serbian, ahead of the French Open starting this month, has said that he is not much focussed on rankings but getting more Grand Slam titles is his major ambition.

“I’m not personally paying too much attention anymore to the rankings as much as I am to my game for the Grand Slams,” he said. “Those are the biggest focus tournaments right now at this stage of my career.”

“Four tournaments before French is I think enough in terms of the match play,” he said. “So I’m building my fitness and I’m building just my game slowly step by step in order to peak in Paris. That’s definitely where I want to play my best.”