Andy Roddick has identified the record he thinks will be the ‘next obsession’ for Novak Djokovic after the legendary Serb made more history at the 2023 ATP Finals.
The former world No 1 thinks Djokovic will have his sights set on Jimmy Connors’ record total of 109 ATP singles titles and feels this tally is “within his grasp.”
With his win over Jannik Sinner to win the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday, Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer by claiming a record seventh crown at the year-end championships. The 36-year-old also matched his Swiss rivals’ record of 71 hard-court titles.
The triumph was Djokovic’s 98th overall ATP tournament victory, with only Connors (109) and Federer (103) having claimed more.
Djokovic holds the records for most men’s Grand Slam titles (24), ATP Masters 1000 titles (40), ATP year-end No 1 finishes (eight), and weeks spent on top of the rankings (400), among others.
In his column for Betway, Roddick lauded the level Djokovic produced in his final two matches at the ATP Finals and also thinks he will be keen to claim one of the few records he does not already hold.
“The way Novak Djokovic played across the last two games of the ATP Finals was as good of a two-day, 24-hour performance that I’ve ever seen,” the American said.
“Carlos Alcaraz served 84 per cent first serves and still lost 3 and 2. Jannik Sinner was the best player for 90 per cent of the tournament but then, for that last hour, Novak just went crazy. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him serve better than he did this week.
“Every major statistical marker is in his rear-view, but he still has Jimmy Connors’ all-time titles record of 109 to go after. That’s certainly something that’s within his grasp, so I fully expect him to obsess over that number like he’s obsessed over so many others.
“Once he gets past the field in all of them, I think we’ll maybe get a true understanding of what the timeline will be for him.”
