PARIS, France (AFP) — Novak Djokovic’s return to the world number one spot, just five months after slumping to his lowest ranking in 12 years, leaves little doubt that he is one of the sport’s greats.

The Serb is back on the top of the pile for the first time in two years, at the end of a roller coaster season for the 14-time major winner.

Djokovic, 31, underwent elbow surgery in January and slipped to 22nd in the world after a depressing quarter-final exit at Roland Garros in June, which left him briefly threatening to skip Wimbledon.

But he regrouped, romped to a fourth Wimbledon title the following month, a 32nd Masters in Cincinnati, and then a third triumph at the US Open in September.

Despite his loss in the final of the Paris Masters to Karen Khachanov on Sunday — which ended a 22-match win streak — his record since the start of Wimbledon stands at 31-2.

“Reflecting on what I’ve been through in the last year, it’s quite a phenomenal achievement,” said Djokovic, who has knocked Rafael Nadal from the world top spot.

“I’m very, very happy and proud about it. Five months ago, it was highly improbable, considering my ranking and the way I played and felt on the court.”

Djokovic is now just three behind Nadal’s total of 17 Grand Slams, and six shy of Roger Federer’s record of 20.

But he has time on his side —Federer has already celebrated his 37th birthday while injury-plagued Nadal is 32.

Furthermore, Djokovic enjoys a lifetime 25-22 record over Federer and 27-25 against Nadal.

“Novak has everything to make records in this sport,” said Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro after losing to Djokovic in the US Open final.

Djokovic’s ability to thrive amongst the greats has never been in doubt, but the size of his heart often led to questions in his early days.

At Wimbledon in 2007 he retired with a back injury in the third set of his semi-final against Nadal.

He also quit at the 2006 and 2007 French Opens at the third round and quarter-final stages, respectively, while at the 2009 Australian Open, where he was defending champion, he pulled out of his quarter-final with Andy Roddick, citing heat exhaustion.

But nobody could question his courage at the 2012 Australian Open, when he beat Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final of all time, a draining 5hr 53min epic.

Djokovic captured the first of his majors in Melbourne in 2008, but it was three years before he added his second.

After leading Serbia to a maiden Davis Cup in 2010 he raced through the first half of 2011, building up a 48-1 winning run.

Only a semi-final defeat at the French Open prevented him from becoming just the third man to capture a calendar Grand Slam.

He finished 2011 with a 70-6 win-loss record, a haul of 10 tournament victories, and the year-end number one spot for the first time.

Back-to-back Australian Opens followed in 2012 and 2013, although three heartbreaking final defeats kept the French Open frustratingly out of reach until 2016, when his breakthrough win at Roland Garros allowed him to complete his career Slam.

In Paris that year he also became the first player to break through the US$100-million (87.8 million euro) prize money barrier.

Djokovic has also not been afraid to take chances and innovate his game, bringing in Boris Becker as part of his coaching team for the start of the 2014 season although he has since reunited with long-time mentor Marian Vajda.

Off court, Djokovic married long-time girlfriend Jelena Ristic in July 2014. They have two children, a son Stefan and daughter Tara.

However, despite his achievements, Djokovic appears doomed never to be held in the same warm esteem as Federer and Nadal.

There are those who see something a little more calculating in the Djokovic make-up.

He was castigated during the 2015 French Open semi-finals for taking an eight-minute medical time-out after dropping the third set to Andy Murray, and at Indian Wells the next year he was roundly criticised for suggesting that men should “fight” to get more prize money than women.

“The stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men’s tennis matches,” he said.

At Wimbledon this year, he hit out at some Centre Court fans for a perceived lack of respect, while schedulers also felt his ire for exiling him to Court Two for a third-round match.

Despite the doubts, the plaudits were generous on Monday.

“What Novak has achieved this season has to go down as one of the great sporting comebacks,” said ATP President Chris Kermode.