This is an article ‘Djokovic is getting ready to reclaim number 1’ by Marc Pulisci
As the 2022 men's tennis season wraps up, 21-time Grand Slam title holder Novak Djokovic is dropping hints that he's ready to reclaim the ATP number one ranking in the year ahead. Yet, however easy it is to believe that he can easily take pole position performance-wise, everybody knows that Djokovic has been the subject of several controversies in recent years. The Serbian superstar had missed a lot of tournaments due to his vaccination quagmire, but ending the year with a terrific win at the ATP finals may pave the way for him back to the top spot.
Over in Italy, the current ATP number one, 19-year-old Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz, was awarded in Turin despite having had to sit out the season-ending ATP Finals. During the event, Alcaraz may have received the biggest trophy for being the top player of the men's 2022 season, but Djokovic took home the $2.2 million prize for the tournament. The Serbian hero defeated Norwegian Casper Ruud in two sets, 7-5, 6-3, and was awarded another $2.5 million bonus for an entire week of consistent wins. Though Djokovic found himself deeper at the bottom top ten at number eight, no one denies how the champion is still in the running to be the tennis G.O.A.T., especially now that Roger Federer has announced his retirement.
Djokovic in 2022
As the season culminated, Djokovic entered the winner's circle in men's tennis by matching Alcaraz's one Grand Slam win. However, he still fell behind Rafael Nadal's two major wins, which increased the Spaniard's Grand Slam trophies to 22– so far, the most wins in history. But if Nadal's string of four out of five losses during his last matches will tell us anything, Djokovic might be in better shape to reclaim ATP's top spot from Nadal or the younger and currently injured Alcaraz.
Looking back at Djokovic's 2022 highlights will tell you how he had missed so much, including two of the four biggest tournaments, which saddled him back to number eight. Aside from the two majors, he also missed a few other tournaments due to his COVID-19 vaccination issues.
Winning Wimbledon didn't add any points to Djokovic's ATP ranking either, as British officials barred players from Belarus and Russia from participating in the major tournament – a clear violation of the tournament's non-discrimination clause. What followed was a united decision from the other major tours to withhold the points ranking earned from Wimbledon, which reduced Djokovic's year-end points. The development saw the Serbian star struggling for points to enter the ATP finals, where the top eight players would compete.
The ATP finals
Djokovic concluded everything with a polished victory that weekend. It was apparent to many how he wasn't physically at his best as he lingered on his bench during the break between games while chugging energy drinks and wiping his face with towels. He was exhausted after every point that went longer than a few shots for most of the first set.
However, if you are a true Djokovic fan, you'll know that such struggles are where he finds the best within himself. When he takes the lead, he goes for the jugular, unleashing every inch of power through the key moments that decide the match. In the finals, Ruud missed his opening serve at 30-30 while trying to force the first set into a tiebreaker, and that was the meager gap Djokovic needed. By the second set, he was ready to pounce on the next serve and swiftly sped through two rallies. He then rolled, sending Ruud on a sequence of irrational ball chases that caused his opponent the match and ending it with an impressive mid-court ace.
A new Djokovic in 2023
As he prepares for the Australian Open in January, Novak Djokovic will wear a new tennis shoe brand. Earlier, he had told reporters that he has no plans to retire, primarily when he can still compete at the highest level of play. At the A.S.I.C.S. Global Tennis Summit in Marbella, where he originally comes from, Novak Djokovic seemed to be in good spirits for the launch of the new A.S.I.C.S. Court F.F. 3. Djokovic worked closely for two years with the brand's design team on what they are dubbing their "greatest tennis shoe ever." The question is whether the shoe and the wearer can live up to their name as the greatest ever.
During a press conference, Djokovic was adamant about being in peak condition for the 2023 season, saying he is looking to increase his record of 21 major titles. He also said he was setting his eyes on reclaiming the top ATP spot or at least being a candidate for number one as he continues to work with his team to achieve the highest level of game they can demand from each other.
More good news comes in for the Serbian star as the Australian government is finally considering extending him visa leniency after a year of controversial issues. Despite being deported from the country before the 2022 Australian Open, the local press reported that he might be given a visa to participate in next year's tournament. Reports further stated that the Australian government reversed a three-year ban after Djokovic's expulsion by granting him a visa for the Grand Slam tournament.
Thanks to the Prime Minister's powers and discretion, the ban was overturned upon the installation of Anthony Albanese into office, who replaced the authorities that issued the ban in the first place. Nonetheless, the past months have already sent mixed signals on whether or not the Australian government will lift Djokovic's ban. Australian Open boss Craig Tiley relayed that he had been in close communication with Djokovic and his team since October and was strongly considering the Serbian player's intent to join the upcoming tournament in Melbourne.
Now that the Australian government has practiced COVID-19 leniency by lifting the proof of vaccination requirements for incoming tourists, Djokovic's chances to play in the first major of the year are big.
At the start of the year, Djokovic claimed to have been granted a medical exemption despite not yet having his COVID-19 vaccine shots. The issue prompted government agents, through the orders of Opposition politician and then home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, to investigate the tennis player's status and if he had fulfilled the exemption criteria. Eventually, Djokovic was canceled a night before the start of the tournament despite his team's court appeals, which proved to be futile.
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