Djokovic Says Reclaiming Top Ranking Not his Goal Anymore

23 March 2025, US, Miami Gardens: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli in their men's singles round of 32 match of the Miami Open Tennis Tournament at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: Smg/SMG via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
23 March 2025, US, Miami Gardens: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli in their men's singles round of 32 match of the Miami Open Tennis Tournament at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: Smg/SMG via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Djokovic Says Reclaiming Top Ranking Not his Goal Anymore

23 March 2025, US, Miami Gardens: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli in their men's singles round of 32 match of the Miami Open Tennis Tournament at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: Smg/SMG via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
23 March 2025, US, Miami Gardens: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli in their men's singles round of 32 match of the Miami Open Tennis Tournament at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: Smg/SMG via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Novak Djokovic said chasing the world number one ranking is not his main objective anymore and the 24-times Grand Slam champion will happily take major tournament victories over top spot in the twilight of his glittering career.

Djokovic has spent more than 400 weeks at number one and now sits fifth in the rankings, but the 37-year-old showed he cannot be written off and earned a record 411th ATP Masters 1000 match win on Sunday.

A 6-1 7-6(1) third round victory over Argentine lucky Camilo Ugo Carabelli at the Miami Open also put Djokovic a step closer to his 100th singles title and the Serbian said the top ranking did not matter as much, Reuters reported.

"If it comes as a consequence of great results and titles that I win in a season, then that's amazing. But that's not my objective," Djokovic told reporters.

"My objective is to be able to play my best tennis at the Grand Slams and the tournaments where I participate. My schedule is revised, so obviously I'm not chasing ranking points.

"It's different nowadays, maybe, than it was a few years back (or) for most of my career, to be honest. I'm happy to win a Grand Slam and a big tournament rather than getting to number one. Right now that's more important for me."

Jimmy Connors with 109 and Roger Federer with 103 are the only men with more titles than Djokovic but he said climbing to the top of the list could be difficult.

"It would definitely be amazing to get to that record," Djokovic added. "Connors is someone that I truly admire and respect. He's always very supportive of me in public, I'm thankful for that. It would be amazing.

"But again, it's probably more difficult to achieve that nowadays for me than maybe it was some years ago. I'll go step by step. I'll see. I don't know how long I'm going to compete for. But I'm still enjoying myself when I play well."



Slot Eyes Long Tenure Inspired by Liverpool and FSG Tradition

Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 19, 2025. (AFP)
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 19, 2025. (AFP)
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Slot Eyes Long Tenure Inspired by Liverpool and FSG Tradition

Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 19, 2025. (AFP)
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 19, 2025. (AFP)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who has won the Premier League in his debut season, can see himself staying with the English side for a long spell, saying the club and the owners both have a history of keeping faith in their managers for a long time.

Slot's predecessor Juergen Klopp stayed at Liverpool for over eight years, winning the Premier League, the Champions League and the Club World Cup during his tenure.

Dutchman Slot, who said he was Liverpool's only choice to succeed Klopp, joined on a three-year contract.

"I could see myself working here for a long time because it's a great club to work for and I'm really happy over here. This club has a history of having managers for a long time," Slot told reporters on Friday.

The manager cited Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, who led Manchester United and Arsenal for over two decades, as examples of English soccer's tradition of long-serving managers.

Slot also talked about the Boston Red Sox, a baseball team that belongs to Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, where Alex Cora remained as the manager despite finishing bottom of the American League East division twice in a row.

"Not only this club, but also with regards (to the) ownership, because I'm now watching a documentary about the Boston Red Sox," Slot said. Cora "is still there.

"It is a combination of the history of the club and how the ownership works. So, if there is ever a club where you can work for multiple years, it will probably be Liverpool."

Slot said he was convinced to leave Dutch side Feyenoord, where he served as manager for nearly three years, after realizing that he was the only person Liverpool wanted for the job.

"I told my agent that if I am one of three, I am not interested. I didn't want to go into another summer where I had to do all these kinds of meetings and then waiting, waiting, waiting," he added.

"I didn't have to open my laptop one time to show (Liverpool) what I did or how I worked. They knew everything about me.

"There was never one second of a doubt and that had largely to do with the fact why they wanted me and how they tried to convince me to come."