Djokovic’s Age: How Do Past No.1s Compare? | ATP Tour

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What were other former number ones doing at Djokovic’s age?

Before ‘Nole’, only three members of the ATP No. 1 Club had continued competing at around the age of 39

February 05, 2026

There are just over three months until Novak Djokovic turns 39 years old. And despite already having a historical legacy and so many records in his hands, the Serbian still seems to have everything it takes to fight for more.

Without going any further, he has just become the oldest player to play in an Australian Open final. His great campaign at Melbourne Park, only stopped by Carlos Alcaraz, earned him a return to No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings since last Monday.

Continuing to cling to the top at his age, and after so many years living there, is a very rare feat in our sport. There is one piece of information that makes it more than clear: 22 players who were No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings were already retired at ‘Nole’s’ current age, including Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, who had already been out of competition for a couple of months after playing his last professional match in November 2024 when he was No. 154 in the world.

Which former number ones were still competing at Djokovic’s age? Only three: Illie Nastase, Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, but with very different realities from that of the Serbian today.

Three months shy of age 39, Nastase was world No. 452 in 1985. Late that season, he won his last ATP match as a singles player in Toulouse. The Romanian stopped competing from that tournament until 1988, when he attempted to return to competition in a tournament in Dijon, but lost in his debut. That was his last professional game. He was 41 years old.

The American Jimmy Connors, for his part, was No. 221 in the rankings three months after turning 39. Of course, he finished that season, 1991, in the Top 50. And he ended up clinging to the Top 100—without going beyond the Top 30—until February 1993. Although he was not among the hundred again, he continued competing. His last professional game was in Atlanta 1996. He was 43 years old.

And finally, we come to Roger Federer. What was ‘His Majesty’ doing at Djokovic’s current age? He was No. 4 in the world in 2020 and was not competing like the rest of the players due to the pandemic. In addition, he was recovering from an injury to his right knee that had required surgery in February of that year. In 2020 he would only end up playing a single tournament, the Australian Open in January when he was a semi-finalist (l. with Djokovic).

He competed again in March 2021 in Doha, and from there, he only played four more tournaments. At Wimbledon 2021 he played his last singles match. And at Rod Laver 2022 he played his last professional match, in doubles. He was 41 years old.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is guaranteed to remain in the elite when he turns 39 on May 22, as he will only defend 930 points until then and his current lead over world No. 10, Kazakh Alexander Bublik, is 2,045 points. Time passes, and ‘Nole’ continues fighting its effects.

Did you know that…?
29 players have once ranked No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings (full list). Only four are still competing: Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Of the 25 already retired, 22 stopped playing when they were 38 years old or younger.