He is the first player to win an ATP tournament three times in succession on seven different occasions!
Illustration: Reuben NV/Rediff.com
Novak Djokovic has become synonymous with records.
His triumph in the Miami Open on Sunday, April 3, added to the list.
Djokovic first surpassed Roger Federer as the highest earning tennis professional. His $98 million reserve making him the all-time prize money leader on the ATP Tour.
Then, his 6-3, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori sealed a record 28th Masters Series title. It ensured for the first time in six years the world's top-ranked player won't have to share the lead with Rafael Nadal.
The title was Djokovic's sixth at Miami, equaling the record set by Andre Agassi.
At the same time the Serb equaled the American's record of three successive wins in the tournament.
This three-peat ensured Djokovic another personal milestone, making him the first player to win an ATP tournament three times in succession on seven different occasions.
While a player winning a tournament three consecutive times has many precedents, the number of separate events Djokovic has done it in is unprecedented. It speaks eloquently about his consistency in a sport as taxing as tennis.
It is not surprising that five of the seven tournaments Djokovic has performed a three-peat in happen to be a top rung event.
He has achieved a hat-trick at the year's first major (the Australian Open) as well as the year-ending World Tour Championships at the O2 Arena.
Besides, he has done three-peat in the Masters Series events in Indian Wells, Miami and Paris, as also the ATP 500 events in Dubai and Beijing.
Winning big is Djokovic's forte. And this is a record that will take some beating.
