Djokovic sets a new record at age 38, joining an exclusive list in world tennis since 1968

07/11/2025 17:17:00 sport

Novak Djokovic continues to rack up records and milestones in his career, even at the age of 38. The experienced Serbian player recently secured a semifinal berth at the ATP 250 event in Athens after a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 win over Nuno Borges in a match lasting 1 hour and 43 minutes.

Djokovic hits the milestone of 200 wins on indoor courts

Novak managed to break his opponent’s serve just once but skillfully took advantage of critical moments, securing a place in the top 4 and continuing his pursuit of the championship title.

This victory not only advanced Djokovic further in the tournament but also helped him reach a notable milestone: becoming the 21st player in the Open Era to achieve 200 wins on indoor courts.

Djokovic reaches 200 wins on indoor courts

With this achievement, the 24-time Grand Slam winner has joined the list of indoor tennis icons such as John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, Boris Becker, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, and Pete Sampras. Djokovic currently holds a 200-50 record on indoor surfaces, including 14 titles from a total of 19 indoor championships primarily at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals.

Over time, Djokovic has become one of the most effective and consistent players under indoor conditions, thanks to a harmonious blend of serving skills, durable defense, and precise attacking at decisive moments.

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Djokovic did not participate in last week’s Paris Masters to rest and preserve his condition. Instead, he chose to compete in the ATP 250 tournament in Athens, where he and his family have been residing for the past two months.

In the second round, Djokovic defeated Alejandro Tabilo before facing Nuno Borges in the quarterfinals. The Portuguese player fought hard, saving four out of five break points. However, Djokovic — with the composure and experience of the top seed — overcame his only shaky service game and finished the match in two sets to save energy.

During long rallies, Djokovic no longer holds as clear a dominance as in his peak years. Nevertheless, he maintains calm and an advantage over his opponent, who was hampered by a right knee injury in the second set.

The Serbian lost only 12 points on serve, saved both break points he faced, and struck the decisive break in the middle of the second set after nearly perfect play in the first set tiebreak.

With this win, Djokovic has reached his 199th ATP semifinal in his career. He is aiming for his 101st ATP title and his second championship of the season, following his victory in Geneva.

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