Novak Djokovic Scripts ATP History Despite Shock Madrid Open Withdrawal

Novak Djokovic has been out of competition for over a month following his fourth-round loss to Jack Draper at the Indian Wells Masters in March 2026, where he sustained a right shoulder injury. Since then, the Serbian has withdrawn from the Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Masters, yet continues to extend his record-breaking tenure in the ATP rankings despite his absence from the court.

According to verified ATP rankings data, Djokovic has now surpassed Roger Federer’s record for the most weeks spent in the top 5 of the men’s singles rankings, reaching 860 weeks as of April 2026. This exceeds Federer’s previous mark of 859 weeks. Djokovic also maintains the all-time record for the most weeks ranked world No. 1, with a total of 428 weeks at the summit of men’s tennis.

Djokovic is approaching another historic milestone: his 939th week ranked within the top 10 of the ATP standings, which would become the second-highest such total in history, trailing only Federer’s 968 weeks. The Serbian could surpass this benchmark as early as November 2026, provided he returns to active competition and maintains his position within the elite tier.

Despite his physical setbacks, Djokovic has remained resolute about his future in the sport. In a recent interview with Esquire Australia, he emphasized that his motivation stems from a deep love for tennis and the ongoing challenge of competing at the highest level. “What keeps me going is first and foremost my love for the game. Tennis has been my life for so long, and I still enjoy every moment on the court. I love the competition, I love the challenge, and I still sense strong and capable of competing with the younger players — that’s a big part of the fun for me,” Djokovic stated.

He also addressed speculation about retirement, saying he does not feel he has “completed” tennis despite his 24 Grand Slam titles, the most in men’s history. “But I don’t feel like I’ve ‘completed’ tennis. My motivation to keep playing comes from my love for the game, from competition, and from challenging myself,” he added. When questioned about his physical readiness, Djokovic highlighted a shift in his approach: “At this stage of my career, preparation isn’t just about training harder. It’s about training smarter, listening to my body, and making sure I’m at my best physically and mentally so I can compete at the highest level.”

His most recent notable performance came at the Australian Open in January 2026, where he reached the final after defeating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. Although he lost the championship match to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic finished the early part of the 2026 season with a 7–2 win–loss record. However, his momentum was halted by the shoulder injury incurred during his Indian Wells encounter with Draper, a match that featured a notable 26-shot rally in the third set won by Djokovic, which left him visibly fatigued before being broken in the following game.

Looking ahead, Djokovic is targeting a return to clay-court action ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 24, 2026. The Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, scheduled to start on May 6, is widely viewed as a potential comeback venue. A strong showing in Rome could provide valuable ranking points and help rebuild confidence before Roland Garros. Alternatively, the Hamburg Open, an ATP 500 event commencing on May 17, presents another option, though it leaves minimal recovery time before the French Open, as Roland Garros begins just one day after the Hamburg final on May 23.

As of mid-April 2026, no official timeline has been confirmed for Djokovic’s return to the ATP Tour. His withdrawal from three consecutive Masters 1000 events has fueled ongoing discussion about his physical condition and long-term prospects, though the 38-year-old continues to defy expectations through his sustained presence in the upper echelons of the rankings.

For ongoing updates on Novak Djokovic’s recovery status and potential return to competition, fans are encouraged to follow official announcements from the ATP Tour and his representatives.

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