Twenty four time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic closed the 2023 ATP season by clinching the year-end No. 1 spot for a record-extending eighth time.
Images from Day 1 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
The 20-year-old will need all of his weapons on Friday if he is to stand a chance in his first meeting with Djokovic.
As the spotlight shines on Carlos Alcaraz's title defence and Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam, a determined group of challengers is quietly preparing to shake up the draw.
Djokovic raced into a 3-0 lead before his opponent found his rhythm to set up three break points at 4-2.
Images from Day 6 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.
The bull-like Alcaraz, playing only his second Grand Slam final compared to Djokovic's record 35, put on a show
No 'triple bagel' but Djokovic thumps Mannarino to reach quarters
Novak Djokovic, chasing a record 23rd Grand Slam title, has said he was not holding back and would do it again. He is set to play his second-round match later on Wednesday against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.
Novak Djokovic said he is hoping to put the cherry on top of a successful 2023 season with a record seventh ATP Finals title, after the world number one beat Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final to set up a showdown with Jannik Sinner.
'We were the best team in Asia at one point. Today, we are barely in the reckoning for the Davis Cup.' 'Players now, especially this decade, lack perseverance.'
As a sporting spectacle Alcaraz and Djokovic matches have delivered on every level and would be worthy of the Big Apple spotlight.
Images from the men's singles semi-finals at the US Open semi-finals, at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Friday.
Sinner remains the man to beat at Melbourne Park even as doping officials seek a two-year ban for the world number one for failing two drugs tests last March.
Norwegian Casper Ruud did not let a rib injury get in the way of setting up a Madrid Open final showdown with fifth seed Jack Draper as he reached the title match without dropping a set following a 6-4 7-5 win over Francisco Cerundolo on Friday.
'Great to catch up with a champion tennis player.'
The 20-year-old Spaniard will attempt to end Djokovic's 34-match winning run on the Wimbledon grass.
Djokovic puts record books out of mind in hunt for 24th major title
Need to raise game against Djokovic, says Medvedev ahead of US Open final
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz expect Rafael Nadal to be at his competitive best at the Australian Open next month despite a hip injury that wiped out the veteran Spaniard's 2023 season.
Italy returned to the Davis Cup final after a gap of 25 years as Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in both singles and doubles to secure a 2-1 victory over Serbia on Saturday that earned the 1976 champions a title clash with Australia.
Even though Carlos Alcaraz recently dethroned him from the top of the world rankings, Novak Djokovic is still considered the man to beat and still has the power to turn opponents into nervous wrecks.
Novak Djokovic subdued Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, easing into a record 35th Grand Slam final.
Novak Djokovic enjoyed a stress-free return to US competition following a two year absence
Fans are buzzing over the prospect of a rematch between world number one Alcaraz and second seed Djokovic in a potential New York finale
A seemingly invincible Novak Djokovic playing some of the best tennis of his career at 36 heads to Wimbledon seeking to tighten his stranglehold.
Novak Djokovic claimed a record-breaking 23rd men's singles Grand Slam title when he beat Norway's Casper Ruud 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5 in the French Open final.
A round-up of Friday's action in the Davis Cup.
Novak Djokovic looked back at what had shaped him as tennis's most successful male player - hardship and adversity.
'I'm not going to overplay. I'm not going to do anything different because I'm playing Novak. I'm going to play my game, play within myself and trust that if I play well, it's enough.' - US Open
'I've been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcaster.'
Novak Djokovic described Carlos Alcaraz as like facing a blend of the big three -- himself, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer.
The Dane revealed he had taken notes from how Novak Djokovic beat Alcaraz in the Olympic final at Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic marched into the semis of the Dubai Tennis Championship, with a comfortable win over Hubert Hurkacz.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the US Open, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York, on Friday.
Novak Djokovic is returning to the US for the first time in two years after being denied entry due to being unvaccinated for COVID-19.
'I'm just glad to overcome today's challenge in straight sets and move on.'
The cricketing fraternity on Monday paid glowing tributes to India's batting talisman Virat Kohli on his retirement from the longest format after an illustrious 14-year-career.
Only 28 players have ever held the top rank in the ATP Rankings' history, including Djokovic. For the eighth time in a row (he also won the title in 2011-12, 2014-15, 18 and 20), he concluded the year as the top player.
Philippine wildcard Alexandra Eala pulled off the biggest win of her young career with a stunning upset of Polish world number two Iga Swiatek.
