"Beyond anything I can possibly imagine" - Marion Bartoli, Billie Jean King and Rennae Stubbs react to Novak Djokovic breaking the World No. 1 record
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, American tennis legend Billie Jean King, and former tennis pro Rennae Stubbs congratulated Novak Djokovic on breaking Steffi Graf's record of 377 weeks as World No. 1.
Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer's record of 310 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings in March 2021. He has now claimed the record for the most weeks as World No. 1 by a male or female tennis player, beginning his 378th week at the top of men's tennis on Monday (February 27).
Following the achievement, Marion Bartoli took to Instagram to congratulate the Serb, saying he was "the best," and that breaking Graff's record was "beyond anything" she could imagine.
"Congratulations @djokernole on being simply THE BEST!!! When you know how much dedication, sacrifice, work, talent, sweat blood and tears it requires to be a tennis champion, this number is just beyond anything I can possibly imagine," Bartoli wrote.
12-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King took to Twitter to congratulate the 35-year-old, saying:
"Novak Djokovic has been World No. 1 for a record 378 weeks! Congratulations, @DjokerNole!"
Novak Djokovic has been World No. 1 for a record 378 weeks!
Congratulations, @DjokerNole! 🎉
Meanwhile, Rennae Stubbs said that being World No. 1 for 378 weeks is an "incredible feat."
"378 weeks at #1 is an incredible feat!! Congratulations @DjokerNole on an incredible milestone," Stubbs wrote.
378 weeks at #1 is an incredible feat!! Congratulations @DjokerNole on an incredible milestone. @atptour
"This is one for the tennis history books" - Boris Becker on Novak Djokovic breaking his compatriot Steffi Graf's record
In an interview with Eurosport, Boris Becker said that breaking Steffi Graf's record was an "unbelievable achievement," as he never thought it was possible. The German legend said that while he would have preferred his compatriot as the all-time leader, he is "not too unhappy either," as Novak Djokovic is his "close friend."
"It’s an unbelievable achievement. I never thought this record could be broken. As a fellow German, I would have wished for Steffi Graf to be the all-time leader, but being a close friend of Novak as well, I am not too unhappy either," Becker said.
While records are always "meant to be broken," Becker believes this one will go down in "tennis history," and that Djokovic will be World No. 1 for a few more weeks before someone else takes his place.
"Novak is a fantastic guy and a great champion. Records are meant to be broken. Sooner or later, all records will be broken, but this is one for the tennis history books," he said.
"And guess what, it’s still counting. I think Novak will be number one for a few weeks more before somebody will take his crown," he added.
The Serb will next start his campaign at the Dubai Tennis Championships against Tomas Machac on February 28.