Jimmy Connors currently holds the record for most titles in Open Era history, with 109.
When Roger Federer came along and started winning freely, that incredible figure suddenly seemed under threat.
The American will have been glad to see him retire with 103, six short of his tally.
However, there remains another star from that era who has just moved one step closer to snatching his record, as Djokovic won the China Open title earlier this week.
Speaking on his Advantage Connors podcast, he reacted to this latest triumph from the Serbian, whilst explaining how his run to the crown has actually ‘exposed’ tennis.
Jimmy Connors reacts as Novak Djokovic moves closer to his ATP title record
Jimmy Connors’ initial reaction to hearing that Novak Djokovic had won his 102nd ATP Tour-level title was a jovial one, laughing as he prayed: “Stay there!”
He then explained how Djokovic has done well to pick himself back up after so many setbacks, adding: “We talk about it all the time. You can say whatever you want about Joker. He’s no slouch.
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“You know, everybody thinks, Oh, you know, he’s had it. You know, he’s 38, 39 years old… You never count a guy out like that, because you get to the point where every match means something more than it ever did.
“Let’s see what happens with him, and also, you know, Sinner’s been out, which kind of opens the door a little bit more for him, too. You know, we talk about the young guys… let’s talk about the old guy, too! It also opens the door for him. You know, not having to play Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, back to back to back.
“That would be a tough ask for anybody, when you’re young and just getting started, let alone now. You know, so good for him to play well and win the tournament.”
However, despite praising Djokovic, Connors also explained how his run to the title might force his younger opponents to question themselves.
He claimed: “It may expose tennis a little bit. It may just expose it, you know, to the point where, you know… I came off a wrist injury, so, I mean, I lost a year and a half and all that.
“But, you know, that kind of exposed tennis a little bit, that these new, great, young, you know, 23, 24, 25-year-olds maybe better get on it, man. You know, to start taking your place in this game.”
Despite this, John McEnroe admitted that Djokovic had surprised him with his actions following his early US Open exit.
Easily the biggest victory of his week in Beijing was over Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
It has since been confirmed that the German is now guaranteed to be the year-end world number one, with Jannik Sinner having ended his 2026 season early.
Off the back of this, Connors then said whether he thought Zverev deserved to be the world number one.
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