World number 1 Novak Djokovic won the sixth title at the Masters 1,000 in Paris on Sunday (5), his sixth title of the tennis season.
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It was also the Serb’s 40th cup in Masters level tournaments, second in importance in the ATP, behind only the Grand Slam.
After winning, he responded to Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who recently made comments about his rival’s ambition to establish new records in tennis.
“I’m going to go for every record possible, every record I can break. I’ve never had a problem saying that. And that’s why people don’t like it. I don’t pretend like some people do… By saying it’s not my goal, and then I behave differently… I’ve always tried to be consistent with what I believe in,” said the Serb.
As a result, recovering from a hip injury, Rafael Nadal is away from tennis. He plans to return in 2024 for what could be his last active season.
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Owner of 22 Grand Slam titles, the Spaniard recently commented on Djokovic’s record of 24 cups.
“For him it would have been a greater frustration not to achieve it. And perhaps that’s why he achieved it, he led his ambition to the maximum. I have been ambitious, but with a healthy ambition that has allowed me to see things in perspective, not to be frustrated, not to be more irritated than necessary on the track when things are not going well”, said Nadal.
As a result, Djokovic’s biggest Grand Slam winner this year reached his 14th season with at least 50 victories on the ATP circuit. Victory in Sunday’s final was their 51st triumph, with just five defeats. Djokovic’s best season was 2015, when he won 82 of 86 games.
He even surpassed his own mark from 2021: the oldest tennis player to be champion in Paris. Now 36 years old. He reached nine ATP 1000 finals in the French capital, with seven cups. Paris is the ATP 1000 in which he has the most trophies – he has six titles in Rome and Miami.
“It will always be my mentality as long as I’m an active player. It’s great (the achievement), but it’s already behind me. I’m already on the next page for the next challenge. Fortunately or unfortunately, that’s the way it works for me. I think it’s the right mindset to follow”.
“As long as I’m active, I still want to win more and still play at the highest level. Obviously, Grand Slams and Masters are the main tournaments in our sport. Considering the circumstances I’ve had over the last seven days, this victory has greater weight and value. It’s tastier. Particularly at this point in my career, I think that every victory in a major tournament is worth twice as much nowadays,” said Djokovic.