Seven different players over the age of 30 won titles on the ATP Tour during the 2023 season, compared to 17 in this age bracket in 2022 and 15 in 2021.
Novak Djokovic achieved the feat multiple times, but there were two older champions in the men’s game this year.
Here, we count down the seven oldest different ATP title winners in 2023.
7. Roberto Carballes Baena – 30 years and 17 days
Robert Carballes Baena claimed the second ATP title of his career and first in over five years at the ATP 250 clay-court event in Marrakech, Morocco in April.
The unseeded Spaniard downed fifth seed Maxime Cressy 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1 in the first round and was leading 2-0 in the first set when qualifier Dimitar Kuzmanov withdrew through injury in the second round.
The 30-year-old overcame No 4 seed Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the quarter-finals, before a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 last four victory against second seed Dan Evans.
Carballes Baena, who had turned 30 the previous month, edged unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in the final to secure the Grand Prix Hassan II title.
6. Dusan Lajovic – 32 years and nine months
At the clay-court ATP 250 tournament in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina in April, Lajovic won his second ATP event and first for almost four years.
Lajovic defeated fellow Serbian Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the opening round, before cruising past eighth seed Gregoire Barrere 6-3, 6-0 in the second round.
In the quarter-finals, he upset top seed and great compatriot Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(6). The 33-year-old then got past another countryman – No 4 seed Miomir Kecmanovic – with a battling 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 semi-final win.
In the final, Lajovic competed an impressive title run with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over second seed Andrey Rublev to claim the inaugural Srpska Open crown.
I had many things on my bingo card this week but Lajovic surpassing his sublime run to the 2019 Monte Carlo final was not one of them
Took out all of his fellow Davis Cup teammates (Djokovic, Krajinovic, Kecmanovic) + Rublev for the Banja Luka title!! 🏆
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) April 23, 2023
5. Dan Evans – 33 years and two months
Dan Evans secured the second and biggest ATP title of his career at the ATP 500 tournament in Washington, United States in August.
Having received a first round bye as the No 9 seed, Evans beat Barrere, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the second round and Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.
The 33-year-old then earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No 2 seed Frances Tiafoe in the last eight, before prevailing 6-3, 7-6(4) against fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals.
Evans delivered another strong display in the final to earn a fourth consecutive straight-set win with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over No 12 seed Griekspoor to win the Mubadala Citi DC Open.
The moment when Dan Evans clinched the Washington title 👏@mubadalacitidc | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 7, 2023
4. Adrian Mannarino – 35 years and four months
Adrian Mannarino won titles in Newport, Astana and Sofia in 2023 – with the latter at the ATP 250 indoor hard-court tournament in Bulgaria in November the most recent.
After receiving a bye, the No 2 seed downed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-4 in the second round, seventh seed Sebastian Ofner 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3 in the quarter-finals, and Pavel Kotov 6-2, 7-6(2) in the semi-finals.
In the title match, the 35-year-old Frenchman battled past unseeded Brit Jack Draper 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3 to secure the Sofia Open title – his fifth career ATP triumph.
Mannarino defeated Americano duo Alex Michelsen and Sebastian Korda in the 250 finals in Newport and Astana respectively.
3. Novak Djokovic – 36 years and five months
Novak Djokovic collected seven ATP Tour titles this year – with his victory at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy in November his last.
The world No 1 earned three-set round-robin wins over Holger Rune and Hubert Hurkacz, either side of a three-set loss to Jannik Sinner, to progress to the knockout stage. In the last four, Djokovic dismantled Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2.
The 36-year-old then produced another stunning display to defeat Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in a rematch in the final to win a record seventh year-end championships crown.
In 2023, the Serbian also won: Adelaide, the Australian Open, the French Open, Cincinnati, the US Open and the Paris Masters.
2. Richard Gasquet – 36 years and six months
At the hard-court ATP 250 event in Auckland, New Zealand in January, Richard Gasquet secured the 16th title of his career – all of which have come at 250 level.
The unseeded Frenchman eased past wildcard Kiranpal Pannu 6-3, 6-1 in the opening round and downed lucky loser Joao Sousa 7-6(2), 6-2 in the second round.
Gasquet, who turned 37 in June, then recovered to oust David Goffin 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarter-finals, before receiving a walkover when his semi-final opponent – compatriot Constant Lestienne – withdrew.
In the final, Gasquet delivered a battling performance to earn a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No 2 seed Cameron Norrie to claim the 2023 ASB Classic title.
1. Gael Monfils – 37 years and one month
Gael Monfils reached an ATP final for the 19th consecutive season at the ATP 250 indoor hard-court event in Stockholm, Sweden, in October – where he claimed his 12th title.
The Frenchman, who was playing with a protected ranking, edged Marton Fucsovics 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the first round and qualifier Filip Misolic 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.
The 37-year-old then saw off countryman Mannarino 7-5, 7-6(3) in the last eight, before a 7-5, 6-2 semi-final victory over Laslo Djere.
Monfils survived some inspired tennis from qualifier and first-time finalist Pavel Kotov as he prevailed 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 to become just the fourth player to win an ATP title after turning 37.
The oldest champion in Stockholm history 🇸🇪👏@Gael_Monfils | #bnpparibasnordicopen
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 22, 2023
READ MORE: The 6 players who won their first ATP title in 2023, featuring Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils
