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The Serb is again at the top of the list for the first time in two years, at the end of a saw-tooth season for the major winner 14 times.
Djokovic, 31, was operated on by the elbow in January and slipped to 22nd place worldwide after a depressing disappointment in the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros in June, which briefly threatened him with skipping Wimbledon.
But he regrouped and won a fourth title at Wimbledon the following month, a 32nd Masters in Cincinnati, and a third triumph at the US Open in September.
Despite losing Sunday in the Paris Masters final against Karen Khachanov, ending a series of 22 consecutive victories, her record since the start of Wimbledon is 31-2.
"Reflecting on what I experienced last year is a phenomenal feat," said Djokovic, who beat Rafael Nadal to the top of the world rankings.
"I am very very happy and proud of that, five months ago, it was very unlikely given my ranking and the way I play and feel on the field."
Djokovic is only three points behind Nadal's 17 Grand Slam tournaments and six on Roger Federer's record (20).
But he has time on his side – Federer has already celebrated his 37th birthday while Nadal, 32, is plagued by injuries
In addition, Djokovic enjoys a lifetime record of 25-22 over Federer and 27-25 against Nadal.
"Novak has everything to make records in this sport," said Argentine Juan Martin del Potro after his loss to Djokovic in the final of the US Open.
Djokovic's ability to flourish among the greatest has never been questioned, but the size of his heart has often sparked questions in his early days.
At Wimbledon in 2007, he retired with a back injury in the third set of his semifinal against Nadal.
He also resigned at the French openings of 2006 and 2007 in the third and fourth quarterfinals, while at the 2009 Australian Open, where he was defending champion, he he's pulled out of his quarterfinal while Andy Roddick was citing heat exhaustion.
But no one can doubt his courage at the 2012 Australian Open, when he beat Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final of all time, a breathtaking epic 5 hours and 53 minutes.
Djokovic captured the first of his majors in Melbourne in 2008, but it was three years before adding his second.
After leading Serbia to a first Davis Cup in 2010, he ran during the first half of 2011, making a 48-game winning streak.
Only a defeat in the French Open semifinal prevented him from becoming the third man to grab the Grand Slam schedule.
He finished 2011 with a record of 70 wins out of 6 losses, 10 tournament wins and first place at the end of the year.
The first two Australian Openings followed in 2012 and 2013, but three heartbreaking defeats prevented the French Open from getting frustrated until 2016, when its decisive victory at Roland Garros allowed him to complete his Slam career. .
In Paris, he also became the first player to break through the $ 100 million earnings barrier ($ 87.8 million).
Djokovic was not afraid to take risks and innovate his game either. He joined Boris Becker on his coaching team for the start of the 2014 season. that he has since brought together longtime mentor Marian Vajda.
Outside the courtroom, Djokovic married his longtime girlfriend, Jelena Ristic, in July 2014. They have two children, a son Stefan and a daughter, Tara.
However, despite his achievements, Djokovic seems doomed to never be held in the same esteem as Federer and Nadal.
There are those who see something a little more calculating in Djokovic 's composition.
During the 2015 French Open semifinal, he had been suspended for an eight-minute medical break after dropping the third set to Andy Murray, and at Indian Wells the following year he had been strongly criticized for suggesting that men "fight" to get more prizes than women.
"Statistics show that we have many more spectators at the men's tennis matches," he said.
At Wimbledon this year, he criticized some Center Court supporters for perceived disrespect, while the planners also felt anger at having him exiled to Court Two for a third-round match.
Despite the doubts, the applause was generous Monday.
"What Novak has achieved this season should be considered one of the biggest sporting returns," said ATP President Chris Kermode.
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