The tennis rating system that Novak Djokovic favours, UTR, could see the Serbian ace lose his No.1 spot to Jannik Sinner. Djokovic finished 2023 as the top player in the UTR global ranking, while the official ATP tennis list still ranks him as the world’s No.1.
The UTR rankings for 2023 show Djokovic with a narrow lead at 16.38, closely followed by Jannik Sinner at 16.33, Daniil Medvedev at 16.31, Rafael Nadal at 16.27 despite an injury-ridden year, and Wimbledon champ Carlos Alcaraz at 16.25.
Introduced in the mid-2000s, the ranking system aims to promote fairness and competitiveness among players of all ages, genders, locations, and skill levels. It rates players from 1.00 to 16.50 based on their match results.
The website’s ranking system categorises tennis players by age and level, including U14, U16, U18, high school, college, professional, and tour tournaments for both genders. Djokovic previously praised the system, saying, “The UTR Rating is the best way to measure yourself against all other players regardless of their age or skill level.”
In a recent Davis Cup match, Sinner put on a performance that dashed Djokovic’s Davis Cup hopes while securing the trophy for Italy. Sinner’s achievement included a flawless record as he triumphed in all five matches, both singles and doubles.
The feat also marked the end of Djokovic’s 21-match winning streak. The only Grand Slam defeat Djokovic faced in 2023 was against Alcaraz in a thrilling Wimbledon final.
The final UTR rankings for 2023 revealed that Sinner’s victories over Djokovic propelled him to the No. 2 spot, challenging Djokovic’s top position. Djokovic’s 2023 tennis season saw an impressive win-loss record of 56-7. He dominated most Grand Slam tournaments, boasting a 27-1 record.
Djokovic clinched three Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open. Remarkably, during his major triumphs in Melbourne and New York, the Serbian was pushed beyond three sets only twice.
In the second round of the Australian Open, Djokovic faced off against the No. 191-ranked Enzo Couacaud and emerged victorious with a score of 6-1 6-7(5) 6-2 6-0. In the third round of the US Open, Djokovic had a tough match against the No. 38-ranked Laslo Djere but managed to secure another win with a score of 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.
Nikola Pilic, Djokovic’s former coach, believes that the world’s best could stay at the top of the sport for another two years. The 36 year old previously stated he has no plans of retiring after defeating Ben Shelton during the 2023 US Open.
“It probably sounds cocky or arrogant, but I’m not really surprised,” Djokovic said about the win. “I know how much work and dedication I put into trying to be in this position.”
“Age is just a number. That phrase is really resonating with me at the moment,” he continued.” I don’t want to even consider leaving tennis or thinking about an end if I’m still at the top of the game. I’ll probably consider doing that if I get my ass kicked by young guys in Grand Slams in the years to come.”
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