Russian Andrei Rublev noted that Serb Novak Djokovic, even at 36 years old, remains number one in the ATP rankings because he predicts the actions of his opponents.

Rublev finished in fifth place in the rankings at the end of the 2023 season.

– Firstly, he serves very cool: to any point, to any place – very accurately. If the court is also fast, then it is almost impossible to do anything at the reception. Moreover, if he misses the first ball, then his second (serve) is also strong and powerful. Secondly, he moves incredibly, very quickly. Thirdly, concentration and psychology. It seems that you are playing on equal terms with him, everything is 50/50, but at some point his switch switches, and he starts playing at your speed and not making mistakes.

This often happens to me when the ball is convenient, you can score, but Novak still guesses and somehow deceives me. These are details, but they are all about Djokovic. In moments when there is more pressure on both players, Novak almost always plays better than you. He skillfully uses this, predicts your steps. You can hold your serve perfectly, reach a tiebreaker, where with the score 5:5, he will read your serve and accept it so that you can’t do anything,” Rublev is quoted as saying by “Championship.”

Djokovic previously won the ATP Finals.