Back in the world top 3, Djokovic officially surpasses Federer

Novak Djokovic continues to demonstrate remarkable class and endurance at the age of 38.

Novak Djokovic has experienced an emotional yet bittersweet 2026 Australian Open final when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz with scores of 2-6; 6-2; 6-3; 7-5. Although he couldn't claim his 25th Grand Slam title, the Serbian player left Melbourne with numerous historic milestones, further solidifying his unique status in the world of tennis.

By finishing as runner-up at the Australian Open, Djokovic officially returned to the ATP top 3 for the first time since September 2024. At 38 years and 8 months old, he became the second oldest player ever to be ranked in the world top 3, only behind the legend Ken Rosewall in 1975. Even more notably, Nole has broken the record of his great rival Roger Federer, pushing "Fedex" down to third place on this list.

The 2026 Australian Open also marked the 11th time the Grand Slam record holder reached the final at Melbourne Park, accumulating important ATP points. Meanwhile, last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev was stopped in the semifinals, failing to defend his points and allowing Djokovic to rise above him in the rankings.

Remarkably, Djokovic achieved these milestones while competing with a more selective schedule and constantly facing young, energetic players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In the past 12 months, Novak reached one Grand Slam final, three Grand Slam semifinals, one ATP 1000 final in Miami, a semifinal in Shanghai, along with two ATP 250 titles.

At this year's Australian Open, Djokovic made a strong impression by defeating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals before losing to Alcaraz in a tough four-set match. His resilient fighting spirit, scientific physical preparation, and flexible tactical adjustments continue to help him stay competitive at the highest level.