"I don't see this being the end to him" - Novak Djokovic will get over 400 weeks as World No. 1, says Barbara Schett

Novak Djokovic has begun his 378th week as the World No. 1 and broken Steffi Graf's record for the longest reign as the top-ranked player. The Serb can get as many as 400 weeks, believes Barbara Schett.

Speaking to Eurosport, Schett admitted that she sees no end to Djokovic's stint at the top of the ATP rankings just yet. With the 22-time Grand Slam champion still the man to beat at the moment, the Austrian reckons he can add more to his tally before being dethroned.

"I don't see this being the end to him being the World No. 1 as I think he will get over 400 weeks," Schett said.

"He is still the one to beat at the moment and is the most consistent player out there. He has really, really deserved this. It is phenomenal what he has achieved, and he rightfully has the record."

The former World No. 7 also had plenty of praise for Graf, her idol and role model, revealing that she never thought the German's record would get broken.

"Novak Djokovic being the World No. 1 for 378 weeks is seven years, which is unbelievable," Schett said.

"He has surpassed Steffi Graf, who for me was always an idol and a role model. I had so much respect for her because I played against her and I played in that era. I never thought that somebody would break her record. Now that has happened with Novak, which is phenomenal."

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"Says a lot about Novak Djokovic and... how good he is" - Barbara Schett astonished by Serb becoming World No. 1 despite missing two Grand Slams in 2022

2023 Australian Open - Day 14

More than the fact that Novak Djokovic became World No. 1, Barbara Schett was astonished by the manner in which he accomplished the feat. The Serb notably couldn't play two Grand Slams in 2022.

While he missed the Australian Open and the US Open due to vaccine mandates, he did not receive any ranking points for his Wimbledon triumph. This essentially meant he missed out on three of the four Majors.

Despite all those setbacks, Djokovic climbing back to the top of the ATP rankings following his Australian Open title felt surreal to Schett, who saw it as a testament of his grit and perseverance.

"When he won the Australian Open at the beginning of the year and he became the No. 1 in the world again, I was thinking 'how is that possible?' Last year, two out of the four Grand Slams he was not able to play, then the one he won at Wimbledon he did not get any points," Schett said.

"So pretty much without playing in three Grand Slams, he became World No. 1 again. I think that says a lot about Novak Djokovic and tells you how good he is."