Ivan Dodig And Austin Krajicek Finish At No. 1 At The End Of The Year | ATP Tour

Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek managed to finish as ATP No. 1 doubles players at the end of the year sponsored by Pepperstone for the first time.

The couple formed by the Croatian and the American, who joined their rackets last year, had a great campaign in 2023, finishing at the top of the rankings.

Dodig notes that “this year was incredible for Austin and I. We won five tournaments this year, a Grand Slam, a Masters [1000] and three ATP 500. We had a great year, we played very consistently. All the hard work we’ve put in this year, it’s incredible to finish the year as the number one team and we are very proud and happy about it. It’s one of my best years, even though it’s the ninth time I’ve played the Nitto ATP Finals… I’ve always been consistent, I’ve always been in the Top 10, but this is something special. It was my goal since I started focusing on doubles a couple of years ago. And now I am number one in teams.”

Krajicek indicated that “it is an incredible feeling. Obviously, it was a tough end to the year for us in the Finals, but it was a very special year, all year. It’s a great feeling. It is difficult to express in words. It’s quite nice to be able to finish as the number one team and know that the hard work of the entire year, all the ups and downs and tough losses and special victories that we had this year have brought this and it’s quite nice to be able to finish the year as number one. “It’s something we can be proud of and will remember, so we’re very excited.”

Dodig and Krajicek won their first Grand Slam as a pair at Roland Garros, a year after reaching the final in Paris. It was one of the five titles they won this season, equaling the other couple that achieved the record for trophies this year (Máximo González and Andrés Molteni).

The No. 1 couple at the end of the year won all their crowns in ATP 500 tournaments or higher. And Dodig and Krajicek also won the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo and the ATP 500 in Rotterdam, Queen’s and Beijing.

They finished 2023 with a record of 39-15. Dodig, 38, and Krajicek, 33, also reached the final at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami, Adelaide-2 and Eastbourne, in addition to being semi-finalists at the US Open.

“I hope I still have a few more years and good times ahead of me, but I’m happy with this,” Dodig said. “And together with my partner, we have worked hard. I think we deserve it. We were very consistent throughout the year, we won big games, big tournaments and in the end a few points decided who would be number one and this time it went our way, so I’m happy with it.”

Dodig and Krajicek were the top favorites at the Nitto ATP Finals, where they won a match in Group Green, which would guarantee them No. 1 at the end of the year.

On the singles front, Krajicek rose to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings for the first time in June. He also finished the season in that highest position. Dodig rose to a career-high world No. 2 in September.

“I couldn’t do it without our team. I think we’ve gotten a special group of people around us. Our families at home, couples who put up with the crazy travel all year round and the coaches, my coach Philip Farmer, our physio, Tom and our brother Ivan,” Krajicek confessed. “It is a special group of people who throughout the year help us keep a cool head and be able to fight in hard times. I think without them it would not be possible. So I would also say that it is a special group that makes it possible.”