Novak Djokovic sets sight on elite record in 2020

Novak Djokovic hails from Serbia and is the reigning world number one. He is a 17-time Grand Slam champion, while he holds the record of winning the most Australian Opens (8). To date, he has won 81 career titles, while he also won an Olympic bronze in 2008.

Reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, might have lost the French Open last week to Rafael Nadal of Spain. However, he continues to be the most dominant tennis star this year, as he eyes an elite record at the year-end.

The record: Three more competitive title wins would allow Djokovic to once again finish the year as the world number one. In the process, he would equal USA's Pete Sampras's record of finishing the year as world number one on most occasions (6). Djokovic is currently second in the list, having done so on five occasions, as he shares the feat with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Djokovic in 2020: The year has mostly been marred by tournament cancellations and postponements, owing to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the Serbian has managed to maintain an impressive record so far. He has won 37 matches and has suffered just a couple of losses, with a win percentage of 95.

Djokovic has won four titles this year, including the Australian Open. The two losses he has suffered have come each on hard and clay, while the grass season was entirely scrapped for the year. His last title win came during the Rome Masters last month, prior to the French Open.

Future records: Djokovic is still being backed as one of the favourites to surpass the all-time record of most Slam wins by men, of 20, currently held by Federer and Nadal. As he continues to be the world number one, he is in his 291st week of the same, while he is also the favourite to go past Federer's all-time record of 310 weeks.

Upcoming participations: Currently, Djokovic is taking a two-week break since the French Open final, as he would be featuring in the upcoming Vienna Open (ATP 500 series), starting October 26. Following the event, he would also be participating in the Paris Masters from November 2, before playing the year-ending ATP Finals, from November 16.