How Novak Djokovic Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Novak Djokovic—a timeline of influence.

Novak Djokovic, a Serbian professional tennis player, holds the record for the most weeks ranked world No. 1 by the ATP (428) and year-end No. 1 finishes (8). He's won 100 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including a record 24 majors and 10 Australian Open titles. He also holds records for Masters titles (40) and year-end championships (7). Djokovic is the only man to simultaneously hold all four major titles across three surfaces and the only man to achieve a triple Career Grand Slam. He is also the only player to complete a Career Golden Masters twice and the only singles player to have won all of the Big Titles.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1938: Reference to Don Budge's Grand Slam in 1938

In 1938, Don Budge achieved the Grand Slam in men's singles tennis, a feat that Novak Djokovic was contending for in 2021.

1962: Reference to Rod Laver's Grand Slam in 1962

In 1962, Rod Laver achieved the Grand Slam in men's singles tennis, a feat that Novak Djokovic was contending for in 2021.

1969: Reference to Rod Laver's Grand Slam in 1969

In 1969, Rod Laver achieved the Grand Slam in men's singles tennis, a feat that Novak Djokovic was contending for in 2021.

2011: Rafael Nadal Comments on Djokovic's Level of Play

In 2011, after going 0-6 against Novak Djokovic for the season, Rafael Nadal praised Djokovic's level of performance, calling it probably the highest level of tennis he had ever witnessed.

2011: Nick Bollettieri Praises Djokovic as "Most Complete Player Ever"

In 2011, tennis coach Nick Bollettieri praised Novak Djokovic as "the most complete player ever," highlighting his versatility and skill set.

March 2012: Profiled on 60 Minutes and Named Among TIME's 100 Most Influential

In March 2012, Novak Djokovic was profiled on the CBS show 60 Minutes by Bob Simon. Also in 2012, he was named among the 100 most influential people by TIME magazine, marking a significant recognition of his impact.

2013: Beliefs on Water's Reaction to Emotions in Autobiography

In his 2013 autobiography, Serve to Win, Novak Djokovic wrote about a "researcher" who directed different emotions at glasses of water, observing changes in their appearance, reflecting his beliefs about the impact of emotions on water.

2015: Bollettieri Calls Djokovic "The Most Perfect Player of All Time"

In 2015, Nick Bollettieri further lauded Novak Djokovic, calling him "the most perfect player of all time," emphasizing his technical excellence and dominance.

2016: Nadal Reiterates Praise After Loss in Qatar Open Final

In 2016, following a one-sided loss in the Qatar Open final, Rafael Nadal reiterated his praise for Novak Djokovic, stating that he played against a player who did everything perfectly and that he had never seen someone playing at that level before.

2017: Nadal Acknowledges Djokovic's Invincibility at His Peak

In 2017, Rafael Nadal acknowledged that at a technical level, when Novak Djokovic has been at the top of his game, he has been an invincible player.

2018: Public Support for Croatia at FIFA World Cup

In 2018, Novak Djokovic showed public support for Croatia at the FIFA World Cup, which drew criticism from some in Serbia, leading him to emphasize the universal language of sports and its ability to overcome differences.

2018: Elbow Surgery and Reflections on Natural Healing

In 2018, following his elbow surgery, Novak Djokovic expressed feeling guilty and shared his belief in the body's self-healing mechanisms, stating that he is not a fan of surgeries or medications and prefers a natural approach.

2019: Andre Agassi Interview

In 2019, Andre Agassi provided an interview with the Times of India where he shared his insights about Novak Djokovic.

2020: Belief in Prayer and Gratitude Transforming Food and Water

In 2020, Novak Djokovic expressed his belief that prayer and gratitude can transform toxic food or polluted water into healing elements, stating that scientists have proven that molecules in water react to emotions and speech.

April 2021: Freshwater Snail Species Named After Djokovic

In April 2021, a team of Balkan biospeleologists named a recently discovered freshwater snail species Travunijana djokovici after Novak Djokovic, honoring him with a unique biological tribute.

2021: Sampras Acknowledges Djokovic's Record-Breaking Year-End Finish

In 2021, after Novak Djokovic earned a record-breaking seventh year-end No. 1 finish, Pete Sampras, who was once considered the greatest male tennis player, acknowledged Djokovic's achievement.

2021: Daniil Medvedev labels Djokovic "greatest tennis player in history"

In 2021, after winning the US Open against Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev labeled Novak Djokovic as the "greatest tennis player in history", acknowledging his achievements and impact on the sport.

February 2022: Affirmation of Vaccine Choice Despite Career Risks

In February 2022, Novak Djokovic stated in an interview with the BBC that he believes in personal freedom of choice and supports an individual's right to choose whether or not they receive a vaccine, reaffirming his refusal to be vaccinated even if it costs him his career records.

2022: Beetle Species Named After Djokovic

In 2022, Nikola Vesović from the University of Belgrade announced that a new species of beetle in the genus Duvalius, discovered near Ljubovija, Serbia, was named Duvalius djokovici after Novak Djokovic.

2022: Publication of "Facing Novak Djokovic"

In 2022, a book titled "Facing Novak Djokovic" was published. This book is a compilation of interviews with ATP players, providing detailed insights into what it was like to compete against Novak Djokovic.

2023: Boris Becker Compares Djokovic to Sports Legends

In 2023, Boris Becker compared Novak Djokovic to Lionel Messi, Tom Brady, and LeBron James, referring to him as the "lion king" in his sport.

2023: Mardy Fish Declares Djokovic the "Best Player of All Time" in 2011

In 2023, former world No. 7 Mardy Fish declared that Novak Djokovic in 2011 was the "best player of all time", highlighting a specific period of exceptional performance.

July 2024: First Man on Vogue Adria Cover and Cover of Tiebreak Video Game

In July 2024, Novak Djokovic became the first man and the first athlete to appear on the cover of Vogue Adria. Additionally, he appeared on the cover of the 2024 video game Tiebreak: Official game of the ATP and WTA, alongside Coco Gauff.

2024: Nadal calls Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time

In 2024, Rafael Nadal called Novak Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time. Some analysts consider the Djokovic–Nadal rivalry the best in tennis history.