Djokovic Finishes at No. 1 in ATP Rankings for Record-Extending Eighth Time

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Italy and Serbia in Malaga, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Italy and Serbia in Malaga, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP)
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Djokovic Finishes at No. 1 in ATP Rankings for Record-Extending Eighth Time

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Italy and Serbia in Malaga, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Italy and Serbia in Malaga, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP)

Novak Djokovic earned the year-end No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for the eighth time on Monday, adding to a record he already held.

Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian Open in January, French Open in June and US Open in September — to raise his career total to a men's-record 24 and was the runner-up at the other, Wimbledon. He went 56-7 this season while leading the tour with seven titles, including at the ATP Finals last month.

The 36-year-old from Serbia regained the top ranking from Carlos Alcaraz, who edged him in a five-set final at the All England Club in July.

Alcaraz finished 2023 at No. 2 after the two men swapped No. 1 back-and-forth repeatedly this year.

Iga Swiatek claimed the WTA's year-end No. 1 ranking for the second consecutive year by winning the WTA Finals last month. Swiatek, who won her fourth career major championship at the French Open, overtook Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and runner-up to Coco Gauff at the US Open. Gauff finished at No. 3, followed by Elena Rybakina at No. 4 and Jessica Pegula at No. 5.

Djokovic eclipsed his own mark for the oldest player to top the ATP at the end of a season; he was 34 in 2021.

His eight year-end No. 1s put him two ahead of previous record-holder Pete Sampras, who did it six times. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal each finished at No. 1 five times, as did Jimmy Connors.

Daniil Medvedev closed 2023 at No. 3, followed by Jannik Sinner at a career-best No. 4, Andrey Rublev at No. 5, Stefanos Tsitsipas at No. 6, Alexander Zverev at No. 7, Holger Rune at No. 8, Hubert Hurkacz at No. 9 and Taylor Fritz at No. 10.

Alcaraz and Rune are both 20, marking the first time two men that young both ended a season in the top 10 since 2000, when Marat Safin, 20, was No. 2, and Lleyton Hewitt, 19, was No. 7.

There are three 19-year-olds in the top 100: No. 36 Arthur Fils, No. 71 Luca Van Assche and No. 97 Alex Michelson, an American who jumped up 504 spots after ending last year at No. 601.

The United States is the country with the most men in the top 20, four: Fritz, No. 13 Tommy Paul, No. 16 Frances Tiafoe and No. 17 Ben Shelton.



AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced
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AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and AFC Asian Cup 2027 local organizing committee announced in a press release on Tuesday that the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 is set to take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
The 19th edition of Asia's premier football tournament will kick off on Thursday, January 7, 2027, culminating with the final match on Friday, February 5, 2027, promising an exciting experience for football fans across the continent.
The release said the tournament will feature eight stadiums across three host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. Each city will be anchored by a main stadium.
In Riyadh, the spotlight will be on King Fahd Sports City Stadium, currently undergoing extensive upgrades to meet the highest standards.
Jeddah will host matches at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, also known as “The Shining Jewel,” which recently hosted the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup Final, SPA reported.
In Al Khobar, the newly constructed Stadium will be the centerpiece of the Eastern Region.
In addition to these main venues, Riyadh will also feature King Saud University Stadium, Al Shabab Stadium, and Kingdom Arena, along with the revamped Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, which will see its seating capacity expanded to 21,000 and all facilities upgraded to meet AFC standards.
Jeddah will also host matches at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, which previously hosted several matches during the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal described the announcement of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 timeline as a key milestone in the Kingdom’s journey toward hosting the tournament.
“The local organizing committee is committed to delivering an exceptional edition of the Asian Cup that meets the high expectations of football fans across the continent,” Al Misehal said.
He added: “The success of this endeavor is a result of the unwavering support from our leadership and the guidance of Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, which has positioned the Saudi Arabian Football Federation among the leading football associations in the region.”
Al Misehal expressed gratitude to AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and the entire AFC team for their ongoing support.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 builds on the Kingdom’s recent success in organizing major international sports events, a key part of Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom has recently hosted high-profile football tournaments, including the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, as well as the Spanish and Italian Super Cups. It is also set to host the final stages of this season’s AFC Champions League Elite, alongside major events in other sports, such as Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally.
According to the release, 18 nations have qualified for the tournament: Saudi Arabia (host nation), Australia, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Japan, Korea Republic, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Bahrain, China PR, Indonesia, DPR Korea, Kuwait, and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Six remaining spots will be determined through the final round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.