Novak Djokovic surpasses Steffi Graf's record for the most weeks spent atop the world rankings.

Novak Djokovic has surpassed Steffi Graf's record for the most weeks as world number one after entering a 378th week at the top of the men's rankings.

Since March 2021, Serbia's 22-time major champion has spent a record number of weeks atop the world rankings for men.

Djokovic, 35, described Graf as "one of the greatest, most legendary tennis players that ever played," adding, "I'm flattered, proud, and happy."

Between 1987 and 1999, Graf of Germany won 22 Grand Slam singles championships.

Graf first reached the top of the women's rankings in 1987 and initially held that position for 186 consecutive weeks, tying Serena Williams in 2016.

By winning the Australian Open in January, Djokovic, who had been out of the top spot for six months, returned to the top spot for the first time since July 2011.

Between July 2014 and November 2016, he was at the top for an impressive 122 weeks straight.

He trails Ivan Lendl (160 weeks), Jimmy Connors (160 weeks), and Roger Federer (237 weeks) for that record (157).

He held the top spot in the world for a record-tying seventh time at the end of 2021.