Novak Djokovic’s fans are both amused and annoyed at the emergence of a new statistic which suggests that the Serb is still far from becoming the tennis player with the most weeks as World No. 1.On Monday, February 20, Novak Djokovic equaled Steffi Graff’s long-standing record for most weeks as No. 1. Graff and Djokovic are now joint holders of the record, with 377 weeks at the top.The 35-year-old will surpass the retired Graf’s record next week, with Carlos Alcaraz placed right below.Djokovic's fans are understandably thrilled at this development. Many of them are looking forward to next Monday, when the 22-time Grand Slam champion will stand as the sole owner of the record.But a social media page on tennis updates recently tried to subdue the fans’ excitement by posting a new stat showing Bill Tilden (1893-1953) to be the player holding the record, with 723 weeks as World No. 1. Tilden is supposedly followed by Rod Laver at 452 weeks and Tony Wilding at 378 weeks. According to this list, Novak Djokovic is only in fourth place.It is worth noting that the current ranking system was introduced in 1973, five years after the commencement of the Open Era. Not surprisingly, many fans declared that the outdated stats were of no real value.“This is a bit ridiculous, there is no equivalence between these periods and the only period where rankings actually exist is the Open Era. Tilden played when there were massive barriers for players outside of a few select countries to actually play Tennis around the world.” one fan said.Aoun Jafarey@ajafareyThis is a bit ridiculous, there is no equivalence between these periods and the only period where rankings actually exist is the Open Era. Tilden played when there were massive barriers for players outside of a few select countries to actually play Tennis around the world. twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…TennisMyLife@TennisMyLife68On this monday Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks61On this monday 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase 🇺🇸 Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks https://t.co/yqen4e3RfbThis is a bit ridiculous, there is no equivalence between these periods and the only period where rankings actually exist is the Open Era. Tilden played when there were massive barriers for players outside of a few select countries to actually play Tennis around the world. twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…Many other fans took sarcastic digs at the source.“Big Bill Tilden? Tony Wilding? Seriously? Very disappointed you did not go back to 17th century Jeu de Paume stars,” yet another individual remarked.Isabelle@ievmartin@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Big Bill Tilden? Tony Wilding? Seriously?Very disappointed you did not go back to 17th century Jeu de Paume stars.221@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Big Bill Tilden? Tony Wilding? Seriously?Very disappointed you did not go back to 17th century Jeu de Paume stars.Here are a few more reactions from fans:AACH@AACH88132127@TennisPuneet @DjokerNole I'm just waiting for them to start it. They may one day reach the Stone Age in their comparisons.twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…TennisMyLife@TennisMyLife68On this monday Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks65On this monday 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase 🇺🇸 Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks https://t.co/yqen4e3Rfb@TennisPuneet @DjokerNole I'm just waiting for them to start it.👇 They may one day reach the Stone Age in their comparisons.twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…Didit@CrowDitsOnce @DjokerNole broke a record, their ass got burned. They start with the other new record standard that even never consider before Why are you guys really insecure with Nole's achievements? #NoleFamily twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…TennisMyLife@TennisMyLife68On this monday Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks45On this monday 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase 🇺🇸 Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks https://t.co/yqen4e3RfbOnce @DjokerNole broke a record, their ass got burned. They start with the other new record standard that even never consider before 😂Why are you guys really insecure with Nole's achievements? #NoleFamily twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…روان 𓂆@djokorwI just know uncle toni himself tweeted it twitter.com/tennismylife68…TennisMyLife@TennisMyLife68On this monday Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks65On this monday 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase 🇺🇸 Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks https://t.co/yqen4e3RfbI just know uncle toni himself tweeted it twitter.com/tennismylife68… https://t.co/xNzS2WUO8fShraman@SahaShramanAt least could've waited a few days/weeks to make it seem less obvious.. 🤣What next? Wheelchair tennis? Doubles?? twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…TennisMyLife@TennisMyLife68On this monday Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks345On this monday 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase 🇺🇸 Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks https://t.co/yqen4e3RfbAt least could've waited a few days/weeks to make it seem less obvious.. 🤣What next? Wheelchair tennis? Doubles?? twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…Ethan Hunt@JonSnowLegacyJust when he broke the record, they started adding days as number 1 in their backyard twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…TennisMyLife@TennisMyLife68On this monday Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks35On this monday 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic collects his 377th week as @atptour number 1 equaling 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf record on @WTA According to @thetennisbase 🇺🇸 Bill Tilden would have been World number 1 for 723 weeks https://t.co/yqen4e3RfbJust when he broke the record, they started adding days as number 1 in their backyard 😭 twitter.com/TennisMyLife68…Rishabh S Bhatia@RishabhSB1@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @thetennisbase I have news for you. The No.1 record actually belongs to King Louis the XIV, who reigned for an unprecedented 3,772 weeks & 3 days. What's that? Oh, we're talking about ATP No.1 records? Really? But *you* were the one bringing up other diversionary stats so why not this one? 581@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @thetennisbase I have news for you. The No.1 record actually belongs to King Louis the XIV, who reigned for an unprecedented 3,772 weeks & 3 days. What's that? Oh, we're talking about ATP No.1 records? Really? But *you* were the one bringing up other diversionary stats so why not this one? 😈BoredDutton@IzMogUgla@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase You forgot these guys! Legend says they held the number one spot 1,000 weeks!331@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase You forgot these guys! Legend says they held the number one spot 1,000 weeks! https://t.co/Ti2ggNOE6Waid4Turkey&Syria💕 🐊 🎾🇿🇦@mpshe_shamai@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Could have been???? Are you digging up graves to ensure that you dim Novak's light .471@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Could have been???? Are you digging up graves to ensure that you dim Novak's light .Anne Ryan Mazza@AnneMazza17@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Is it April Fools day already ?4@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Is it April Fools day already ?Marija@bzvbzv4@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Is this supposed to be a joke?Omg🤡11@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Is this supposed to be a joke?Omg🤡metropolis2049@metropolis2049@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Suddenly you morons drop the ladies ranking like a hot potato after you can‘t misuse them for your desperate rankings game. Where is the outcry of the woke army?FRed ranks behind Graf, M🥴rtina and Serena…5@TennisMyLife68 @atptour @WTA @thetennisbase Suddenly you morons drop the ladies ranking like a hot potato after you can‘t misuse them for your desperate rankings game. Where is the outcry of the woke army?FRed ranks behind Graf, M🥴rtina and Serena…Novak Djokovic scheduled to play at the Dubai Tennis Championships nextNovak Djokovic lifted a 10th Australian Open title at the 2023 tournamentNovak Djokovic is enjoying an extended break after winning back-to-back titles at the Adelaide International 1 and the Australian Open.While the World No. 1 is 590 points ahead of Carlos Alcaraz, he does face a threat to the top spot. Alcaraz is set to defend his title at the ATP 500 in Rio this week, with many expecting him to come out on top and close the gap on Djokovic.The Serb would therefore look to come out all guns blazing at his next tournament – the Dubai Tennis Championships, which will be held from February 27 to March 4.