Hubbry Logo
Novak DjokovicNovak DjokovicMain
Open search
Novak Djokovic
Community hub
Novak Djokovic
logo
19 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic
from Wikipedia

Novak Djokovic[a] (born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for a record 428 weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 a record eight times and has been ranked No. 1 at least once in a year for a record 13 different years. Djokovic has won 100 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including a record 24 majors, a record 10 Australian Open titles, a record 40 Masters, a record seven year-end championships, and an Olympic gold medal. Djokovic is the only man in tennis history to be the reigning champion of all four majors at once across three different surfaces. In singles, he is the only man to achieve a triple Career Grand Slam, and the only player to complete a Career Golden Masters, a feat he has accomplished twice. Djokovic is the only player in singles to have won all of the Big Titles over the course of his career.

Key Information

Djokovic began his professional career in 2003. In 2008, at age 20, he disrupted Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's streak of 11 consecutive majors by winning his first major title at the Australian Open. By 2010, Djokovic had begun to separate himself from the rest of the field and, as a result, the trio of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic was referred to as the "Big Three" among fans and commentators. In 2011, Djokovic ascended to No. 1 for the first time, winning three majors and a then-record five Masters titles while going 10–1 against Nadal and Federer. He remained the most successful player in men's tennis for the rest of the decade. Djokovic had his most successful season in 2015, reaching a record 15 consecutive finals and winning a record 10 Big Titles while earning a record 31 victories over top 10 players. His dominant run extended through to the 2016 French Open, where he completed his first Career Grand Slam and a non-calendar year Grand Slam, becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four majors simultaneously and setting a rankings points record of 16,950.

In 2017, Djokovic suffered from an elbow injury that weakened his results until the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, where he won the title while ranked No. 21 in the world. Djokovic then returned to a dominant status, winning 12 major titles and completing his second and third Career Grand Slams. Due to his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine, he was forced to skip many tournaments in 2022, notably the Australian Open and the US Open, being deported from the country in the former case. One year after the Australian visa controversy, he made a successful comeback to reclaim the 2023 Australian Open trophy, and shortly after claimed the all-time record for most men's singles majors titles. In 2024, he became the only player to complete a career sweep of the Big Titles.

Representing Serbia, Djokovic led the national tennis team to its first Davis Cup title in 2010, and the inaugural ATP Cup title in 2020. In singles, he won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is a recipient of the Order of Karađorđe Star, Order of St. Sava, and the Order of the Republika Srpska. He has been named the BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year a record eight times.

Beyond competition, Djokovic was elected as the president of the ATP Player Council in 2016. He stepped down in 2020 to front a new player-only tennis association; the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) founded by him and Vasek Pospisil, citing the need for players to have more influence on the tour and advocating better prize money structure for lower ranked players. Djokovic is an active philanthropist. He is the founder of Novak Djokovic Foundation, which is committed to supporting children from disadvantaged communities. Djokovic was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2015.

Early and personal life

[edit]

Novak Djokovic was born on 22 May 1987 in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia, to Dijana (née Žagar) and Srdjan Djokovic. He is of paternal Serbian and maternal Croatian descent.[7] His two younger brothers, Marko and Djordje, have also played professional tennis.[8]

Djokovic began playing tennis at the age of four,[8] after his parents gave him a mini-racket and a soft foam ball, which his father said became "the most beloved toy in his life".[9] His parents then sent him to a tennis camp in Novi Sad.[10] In the summer of 1993, as a six-year-old, he was sent to a tennis camp organized by the Teniski Klub Partizan and overseen by Yugoslav tennis player Jelena Genčić[10][11] at Mount Kopaonik, where Djokovic's parents ran a fast-food parlour.[9][12][13] Genčić worked with Djokovic over the following six years, convincing him to hit his backhand with two hands instead of the single hand used by his idol, Pete Sampras.[14][15] Djokovic has credited Genčić for "shaping my mind as a human being, but also as a professional".[16][17]

During the Yugoslav Wars in the late 1990s, Serbia had to endure embargoes[17] and NATO bombings[12][14] because of the Kosovo War.[8][18] At one point Djokovic had to train inside a disused swimming pool converted into a tennis court.[19] Due to his rapid development, Genčić contacted Nikola Pilić and in September 1999 Djokovic moved to the Pilić tennis academy in Oberschleißheim, Germany, spending four years there.[12][20] Pilić made him serve against a wall for several months to improve his technique, and he had him working with a rubber exercise band for a year to improve flexibility in his wrist.[12] One of the players he trained with at the Niki Pilić academy was future world No. 10 Ernests Gulbis, with whom he allegedly had a fiery rivalry.[21][22]

His father also took him to train at academies in the United States, Italy, and Germany.[9] Because of the high cost of traveling and training his father took out high-interest loans to help pay for his son's tennis education, putting Djokovic under immense pressure to deliver.[12][14] He believes the impact this had on him could be the reason behind his prowess under pressure.[10][12]

He met his future wife, Jelena Ristić, in high school, and began dating her in 2005.[23] The two became engaged in September 2013,[24] and on 10 July 2014 the couple were married on Montenegro's Sveti Stefan island, in the Church of Saint Stephen (Serbian: Црква Светог Архиђакона Стефана).[25][26] He and Ristić had their first child, a boy, in October 2014.[27][28] Their daughter was born in 2017.[29]

Djokovic is a self-described fan of languages, speaking Serbian, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish to varying levels of proficiency.[30][31][32]

Career

[edit]
Novak Djokovic Singles Ranking History Chart

2000s

[edit]

2001–2003: Juniors

[edit]

In 2001, Djokovic dominated the U14 circuit on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour, winning his first title in a second-category tournament in Messina, defeating compatriot Bojan Božović in the final,[33][34] and his second in Livorno,[33] where he beat top seed Andy Murray in the semifinals and second seed Aljoscha Thron in the final.[35] In July, he won the U14 European Championship in Sanremo, defeating Lukáš Lacko in singles[36] and the doubles with Božović against Russians Alexandre Krasnoroutskiy and Mikhail Bekker.[37][38] He led Serbia to victory in the European Summer Cup,[33] finishing the year as European champion in singles, doubles and team events. He also earned a silver medal at the ITF World Junior Championship U14 team competition for Yugoslavia.[8][39] Djokovic ended 2001 ranked No. 1 on the ETA U14 list, with Murray in second place.[33]

In 2002, now competing in U16 events, Djokovic won two major tournaments in France: the Derby Cadets in La Baule, defeating Gaël Monfils in the final,[40] and Le Pontet in Avignon.[41] In September, he won his first ITF title in Pančevo,[2] winning all matches in straight sets, including over No. 1 seed David Savić in the final.[42] In November, Djokovic won the Prince Cup in Miami, defeating Stephen Bass in the final,[42] shortly before competing at the Junior Orange Bowl, where he reached the third round before losing to Marcos Baghdatis.[42]

Overall, Djokovic compiled a 40–11 singles and 23–6 doubles record in juniors, achieving a combined junior world ranking of No. 24 in February 2004.[43] His best junior Grand Slam result was reaching the semifinals of the 2004 Australian Open. He also competed at the 2003 French Open and 2003 US Open.

2003–2005: Start of professional career

[edit]

Djokovic played his first professional match in January 2003 at a Futures event in Oberschleißheim after receiving a wildcard from Niki Pilić, narrowly losing to Alex Rădulescu.[1] He won his first Futures title in Belgrade later that year and ended 2003 ranked No. 687.[44] In 2004, he recorded his first official ATP win during a Davis Cup match against Janis Skroderis,[45] and later claimed his first Challenger title in Budapest on his 17th birthday, beating Daniele Bracciali in the final.[46] He made his ATP Tour main draw debut at the Croatia Open Umag and ended the year ranked No. 186.[44]

Djokovic's Grand Slam debut came at the 2005 Australian Open, followed by his first Slam win at the French Open.[47] That year, he also reached the third round at both Wimbledon and the US Open, beating Gaël Monfils and Mario Ančić.[48] He impressed at the Paris Masters by reaching the third round after defeating Mariano Puerta,[49] ending the year ranked world No. 78 as the youngest player in the top 100.[50]

2006: First ATP titles and major quarterfinal

[edit]

On 9 April 2006, Djokovic secured a Davis Cup win for Serbia and Montenegro by defeating Greg Rusedski in four sets, giving his team a 3–1 lead over Great Britain and retaining their place in the Group One Euro/African Zone.[51] Around this time, media reported his family had discussions with the Lawn Tennis Association about representing Great Britain.[51] Djokovic, then world No. 64, initially dismissed the story, calling it a kind gesture following the tie.[52] In 2009, he confirmed the talks were serious but chose to represent Serbia, saying he felt a strong national identity and wanted to remain true to it.[53]

At the French Open, Djokovic, then world No. 63, defeated ninth seed Fernando González en route to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, where he retired against Rafael Nadal after two sets in their first career meeting, launching their historic rivalry.[54] His performance pushed him into the top 40. At Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round before losing to Mario Ančić in five sets.[55] Djokovic claimed his first ATP title at the Dutch Open in Amersfoort, defeating Nicolás Massú in the final without dropping a set.[54] He won his second title at the Moselle Open in Metz, beating Jürgen Melzer, and broke into the top 20.[54][56] He also made his first Masters quarterfinal at Madrid.[57] He ended the season ranked No. 16, the youngest in the top 20.[58]

2007: First Masters title and major final, top 3

[edit]

Djokovic began 2007 by winning the Adelaide title, then reached the fourth round of the 2007 Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Roger Federer in straight sets.[59] Strong showings at the Indian Wells and Miami Masters, where he finished runner-up and champion respectively, propelled him into the top 10.[54] In Miami, he defeated Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals and Guillermo Cañas in the final, earning his first Masters title and becoming the youngest champion there since Andre Agassi in 1990.[60][61] He helped Serbia defeat Georgia in the Davis Cup, contributing a singles win.[62] On clay, he won the Estoril Open against Richard Gasquet and reached the quarterfinals in Rome and Hamburg, losing to Nadal and Carlos Moyá respectively. At the French Open, he made his first major semifinal, falling to Nadal.[63] At Wimbledon, Djokovic won a five-hour quarterfinal over Marcos Baghdatis before retiring in the semifinals against Nadal due to elbow issues.[64][65]

Djokovic during his first round match at the 2007 US Open

Djokovic's breakthrough continued at the Canadian Open, where he defeated world No. 3 Andy Roddick, No. 2 Nadal, and No. 1 Federer to claim the title.[66] He became the first player since Boris Becker in 1994 to beat the top three ranked players in a single event, and only the second after Tomáš Berdych to defeat Federer and Nadal as world No. 1 and 2. Björn Borg remarked Djokovic was "definitely a contender to win a Grand Slam".[67][68] Djokovic would then go on to reach his first major final at the US Open, where he had five set points in the first set and two in the second set, but lost them all before losing the match in straight sets to the top-seeded Federer.[69] He won his fifth title of the year at the Vienna Open, defeating Stanislas Wawrinka in the final,[70] and finishing the year ranked No. 3.

2008: First Major title, ATP Finals title

[edit]

Djokovic began the year at the Hopman Cup alongside fellow Serbian Jelena Janković. He won all four of his singles matches, including a final win over Mardy Fish, but Serbia lost the decisive mixed doubles rubber against the United States.[71] The event also marked his first competitive match against Serena Williams.[72] At the Australian Open, Djokovic reached the final without dropping a set, defeating two-time defending champion Roger Federer in the semifinals.[73] By reaching the semis, he became the youngest Open Era player to make the last four at all four majors.[74] He beat unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets in the final, claiming his first Grand Slam singles title.[75] It was the first major title since the 2005 Australian Open not won by Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.[75]

Djokovic celebrating his first Australian Open title in Belgrade

Djokovic then reached the semifinals in Dubai, and won titles at Indian Wells and the Italian Open, his third and fourth Masters titles respectively. He lost to Nadal in the semifinals of both Hamburg and the 2008 French Open.[76] On grass, he fell to Nadal in the Queen's Club final and suffered a second-round loss at Wimbledon to Marat Safin, ending a streak of five straight major semifinals.[77] He was a quarterfinalist at the Rogers Cup and a finalist in Cincinnati, ending Nadal's 32-match win streak in the semis.[78] In the final, he again lost to Andy Murray. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he earned a bronze medal in the singles event and exited in the first round in doubles with partner Nenad Zimonjić.

In November, Djokovic won his first year-end championship title at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, beating Nikolay Davydenko in the final.[79]

2009: Ten finals, five titles

[edit]

Djokovic began the year at the Brisbane International, where he was upset in the first round by fellow Pilić academy trainee Ernests Gulbis.[80] At the Australian Open, he retired in the quarterfinals against Andy Roddick due to heat-related illness.[81][82] After a semifinal loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Marseille, Djokovic won the Dubai Championships, defeating David Ferrer for his 12th career title.[83] At the Indian Wells Masters, he lost to Roddick in the quarterfinals. He then reached the final of the Miami Open, defeating Roger Federer in the semifinals before losing to Andy Murray.[84] During the clay season, Djokovic reached finals at both the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open, losing to Rafael Nadal each time.[85] He then claimed his second title of the year at the inaugural Serbia Open, defeating Łukasz Kubot in the final.[86] At the Madrid Open, he lost another close semifinal to Nadal in a record-setting match lasting 4 hours and 3 minutes.[87] He exited the French Open in the third round to Philipp Kohlschreiber. Djokovic reached the final of the Gerry Weber Open on grass, losing to Tommy Haas, and then fell to Haas again in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.[88][89] During the 2009 US Open Series, he reached the quarterfinals in Montreal, then made the final in Cincinnati, beating Nadal in the semifinals before falling to Federer.[90] At the US Open, he reached the semifinals, where he was again defeated by Federer.[91]

2010s

[edit]

2010: US Open final & Davis Cup crown

[edit]

After playing nearly 100 matches in 2009, Djokovic opted to skip early ATP tournaments in 2010 and began the season at the exhibition AAMI Classic, defeating Tommy Haas but losing to Fernando Verdasco and Bernard Tomic.[92] At the Australian Open, he fell to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals despite being a set away from victory.[93] He then reached the semifinals in Rotterdam and won the Dubai Championships, defending an ATP title for the first time.[94] In March, he led Serbia to a 3–2 win over the United States in the 2010 Davis Cup, defeating Sam Querrey and John Isner.[95] After early losses in Indian Wells and Miami, he split with coach Todd Martin.[96] He reached the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and the quarterfinals in Rome, both times losing to Verdasco. At the 2010 Serbia Open, he withdrew while trailing Filip Krajinović, marking his only loss to a player ranked outside the Top 200.[97][98] At the French Open, he lost to Jürgen Melzer in the quarterfinals after leading by two sets — the only time in his career he lost a major match from that position.[99] He captured his first ATP doubles title at the Aegon Championships with Jonathan Erlich.[100] At Wimbledon, he lost in the semifinals to Tomáš Berdych.[101] At the Canadian Open, Djokovic reached the semifinals, losing to Federer. He also teamed with Nadal in doubles, marking the first pairing of world No. 1 and No. 2 players since Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe in 1976. At the US Open Djokovic saved two match points at 4-5 in the fifth set before beating Federer in the semi finals,[102] but lost to Nadal in the final in four sets.[103]

2011: One of the greatest seasons in history

[edit]
Novak Djokovic celebrates his 2011 Wimbledon semi-final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The victory meant that Djokovic successfully clinched the ATP world No. 1 Ranking for the first time in his career on 1 July 2011. He also reached his first-ever Wimbledon final, which he eventually won.
Djokovic celebrates upon defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, clinching the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career.

Djokovic opened the season by winning the Australian Open, dropping just one set and defeating Roger Federer in the semifinals and Andy Murray in the final to claim his second title in Melbourne.[104][105] He continued his run by beating Federer in the final of the Dubai Championships.[106] At Indian Wells and Miami, he defeated both Federer and Rafael Nadal to claim back-to-back Masters 1000 titles[107]—becoming only the third player to beat both in the same event twice.[108][109] After winning the Serbia Open, he extended his unbeaten streak with titles in Madrid and the Italian Open, defeating Nadal in straight sets in both finals—his first wins over Nadal on clay after nine straight losses.[110][111] At the French Open, Djokovic reached the semifinals before falling to Federer in four sets—his first loss of the year, snapping a 43-match win streak and ending a perfect 41–0 start to the season.[112][113] Five weeks later, Djokovic claimed his first Wimbledon title, defeating Nadal in the final, and secured the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career.[114] Federer served for the match and had two match points in the US Open semi finals but Djokovic won in five sets.[115] He then beat Nadal in four sets in the final for his first US Open title and third major in 2011.[116]

2012: Australian Open and year-end titles

[edit]

Djokovic began the season by winning the Australian Open, defeating David Ferrer in the quarterfinals, and Andy Murray in a five-set semifinal lasting 4 hours and 50 minutes. He faced off against Rafael Nadal, in their third consecutive major final meeting after last year's Wimbledon and US Open. Djokovic won in 5 hours and 53 minutes, which was the longest major final and longest match in Australian Open history. Djokovic then lost to John Isner in the semifinals of Indian Wells but retained his Miami title by defeating Murray. Djokovic fell to Nadal in the finals of both Monte Carlo and the Italian Open. At the French Open, he reached his first final at the tournament, defeating Roger Federer in the semis. Attempting to hold all four majors at once, he lost to Nadal in four sets. At Wimbledon, he was again beaten by Federer in the semifinals.

Djokovic was Serbia's flag bearer at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the semifinals but lost to Murray and then to Juan Martín del Potro in the bronze medal match, finishing fourth. He defended his Rogers Cup title, dropping just one set, but lost the Cincinnati Open final to Federer. At the US Open, Djokovic lost in the final in five sets to Murray.[117]

2013: Australian Open and year-end titles

[edit]

Djokovic began his 2013 season at the 2013 Hopman Cup, representing Serbia with Ana Ivanovic. He won three of his four singles matches, including a final-round win over Fernando Verdasco, but Serbia lost the final 1–2 to Spain.[118] At the Australian Open, he defeated Stan Wawrinka in a memorable fourth-round match lasting over five hours,[119] and went on to beat Andy Murray in the final to win a record third consecutive Australian Open title in the Open Era.[120] Djokovic next helped Serbia take a 2–0 lead over Belgium in the 2013 Davis Cup World Group first round, with a straight-sets win over Olivier Rochus.[121] He then won the 2013 Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Tomáš Berdych in the final.[122] At Indian Wells, Djokovic's 22-match winning streak was ended by Juan Martín del Potro in the semifinals.[123] At the Miami Masters, he was upset in the fourth round by Tommy Haas.[124] In Davis Cup quarterfinals, Djokovic helped Serbia defeat the United States with wins over John Isner and Sam Querrey.[125][126] He then won the 2013 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, defeating Rafael Nadal in straight sets to end Nadal's 46-match winning streak at the event.[127] He suffered early exits at the Madrid Open and Rome Masters, losing to Grigor Dimitrov and Berdych, respectively.[128][129] At the 2013 French Open, Djokovic advanced to the semifinals, defeating Wawrinka, Dimitrov, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Tommy Haas, before losing a dramatic five-set match to Nadal.[130][131][132] At Wimbledon, Djokovic defeated Del Potro in a historic semifinal lasting 4 hours and 44 minutes,[133] but lost the final to Murray in straight sets. Djokovic was a finalist at the US Open, where he lost to Nadal in four sets.[134] He later won the China Open and the Shanghai Masters, extending his unbeaten streak in Asia to 20 matches.[135] He then claimed the Paris Masters, defeating David Ferrer in the final.[136] Djokovic ended the year by winning the 2013 ATP World Tour Finals, beating Nadal in the final.[137] He concluded the season with a 24-match winning streak and later announced that Boris Becker would join his team as head coach for 2014.

2014: Wimbledon and ATP Finals titles

[edit]

Djokovic began the year by winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. At the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals with four straight-set wins before losing to Stanislas Wawrinka in five sets, ending his 25-match win streak in Melbourne and 14 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals.[138] He won the Indian Wells Masters, defeating Roger Federer, and the Miami Masters by beating Rafael Nadal. A wrist injury affected his Monte Carlo campaign, where he lost to Federer in the semifinals. After recovery, he won the Italian Open over Nadal and donated his $500,000 prize to victims of the 2014 Southeast Europe floods.[139][140] At the French Open, Djokovic dropped only two sets en route to the final but lost to Nadal in four sets, his first loss to him after four wins.[141] Djokovic won his second Wimbledon title by defeating Federer in five sets in the final, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking.[142] He suffered early exits at the Canadian Open (to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) and Cincinnati (to Tommy Robredo). At the US Open, he reached the semifinals but lost to Kei Nishikori.[143] He won a fifth China Open title in six years, and after a semifinal loss to Federer in Shanghai, claimed the Paris Masters without dropping a set.[144][145] At the ATP Finals, he set a record by dropping just nine games in the round-robin stage. By reaching the semifinals, Djokovic secured the year-end No. 1 ranking for the third time, tying Nadal for fifth most.

2015: Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles

[edit]

Djokovic started 2015 at the Qatar Open in Doha, winning his first two rounds easily but losing in the quarterfinals to Ivo Karlović. He bounced back at the Australian Open, reaching the final without dropping a set until a tough semifinal against defending champion Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic won the final against Andy Murray in four sets, earning a record fifth Australian Open title and moving into equal eighth on the all-time Major titles list.[146] He then finished runner-up to Roger Federer at the Dubai Championships. Shortly after, Djokovic won his 21st Masters title at Indian Wells, defeating Federer in the final.[147] He followed this with a fifth title at Miami, beating Andy Murray, and became the first player to win the Indian Wells–Miami double three times.[148] In April, Djokovic won the Monte-Carlo Masters for the second time, becoming the first man to win the first three Masters 1000 events of the season.[149] He withdrew from the 2015 Madrid Masters but then captured the Rome Masters, making it 4 Masters titles out of 4 entered that season. At the French Open, Djokovic reached the final without dropping a set in the first five rounds, including a win over Rafael Nadal and a marathon semifinal against Andy Murray. However, he lost the final to Stan Wawrinka.[150] Five weeks later, Djokovic came back from two sets down to beat Kevin Anderson in the fourth round and won his third Wimbledon title, defeating Federer in four sets.[151] Djokovic had the chance to complete the Career Golden Masters at the Cincinnati Masters but lost the final to Federer. He would complete the feat in later years.[152] At the US Open, Djokovic reached his sixth final, beating Federer in four sets to win his third Grand Slam of the year and tenth overall, becoming only the fifth man in the Open Era with double-digit Grand Slam titles.[153] He ended the season by winning the China Open for a sixth time, defeating Nadal in the final to improve his unbeaten record at the tournament to 29–0.[154] This also marked his 15th consecutive final, winning 10 Big Titles over the season and a record 31 wins over top 10 players.[155]

2016: 'Nole Slam', four Masters titles and ranking points record

[edit]
Djokovic kissing Coupe des Mousquetaires after winning the 2016 French Open, completing "Nole Slam" and his first career Grand Slam

Djokovic won his 60th career title in Doha, defeating Rafael Nadal in 73 minutes. He broke his ATP ranking points record, reaching 16,790. Djokovic then claimed his sixth Australian Open, beating Roger Federer in the semifinals and Andy Murray in the final.[156] After recovering from an eye infection at the Dubai Championships, he won his fifth Indian Wells Masters title, beating Nadal and Milos Raonic. Djokovic's dominance meant world Nos. 2 and 3 combined points still wouldn't surpass him.[157] On 3 April 2016, Djokovic won the Miami Open without dropping a set, claiming his sixth title and tying Andre Agassi's record.[158] This was his fourth Sunshine Double, most in history, and third consecutive. The win made him the all-time ATP prize money leader with $98.2 million.[159] After an early exit at the Monte-Carlo Masters,[160] Djokovic won the Madrid Open beating Murray in the final.[161] The next week at the Rome Masters, Murray defeated Djokovic; Djokovic still beat Nadal and Kei Nishikori in earlier rounds.[162] Djokovic won the French Open, defeating Murray in four sets, completing the historic Nole Slam.[163][164] This made Djokovic the eighth player to achieve a Career Grand Slam, third after Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold all four major titles simultaneously, and the first to earn $100 million in prize money.[165] His ranking points rose to a record 16,950.[166][167] At Wimbledon, Djokovic's 30-match Grand Slam winning streak ended with a third-round loss to Sam Querrey, his earliest Slam exit since the 2009 French Open.[168] In late July, Djokovic returned to form, winning his fourth Canadian Open title, his 30th Masters overall. At the US Open he lost the final to Wawrinka in four sets.[169]

2017: Split with team and injury hiatus

[edit]

In January, Djokovic defended his title in Doha, defeating world No. 1 Andy Murray. At the Australian Open, he lost in the second round to No. 117 Denis Istomin, marking his first early exit since 2007 and first loss at a major to a player outside the top 100.[170] In February and March, he was eliminated before semifinals by Nick Kyrgios at the Mexican Open and Indian Wells Masters. In April, Djokovic reached the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing to David Goffin. He then split with longtime coach Marián Vajda, fitness coach Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, and physiotherapist Miljan Amanović to find a new spark. He reached the semifinals at the Madrid Masters, losing to Rafael Nadal, and was runner-up at the Rome Masters. On 21 May, Djokovic announced Andre Agassi as his new coach starting at the French Open, where he lost in the quarterfinals to Dominic Thiem. He began the grass season at the Eastbourne International, winning the title by beating Gaël Monfils—his only tournament win without Vajda until their 2022 split. At Wimbledon, he retired in the quarterfinals against Tomáš Berdych due to an elbow injury.[171] On 26 July, Djokovic announced he would miss the US Open and the rest of the season to recover from his injury.[172] This ended his streak of 51 consecutive Grand Slam appearances since his debut in 2005.[173]

2018: Surgery, two majors, Career Golden Masters

[edit]

In January, Djokovic won the Kooyong Classic exhibition against Dominic Thiem. At the 2018 Australian Open, he reached the fourth round before losing to Chung Hyeon. In late January, he underwent elbow surgery.[174] He returned to practice by early March,[175] and played at Indian Wells a week later, losing in the second round to Taro Daniel. He also lost early at the Miami Open to Benoît Paire.[176] Reuniting with coach Marián Vajda at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic defeated Dušan Lajović and Borna Ćorić, before losing to Dominic Thiem. He said, "After two years finally I can play without pain."[177] Following an early loss at Barcelona to Martin Kližan, he showed improvement at the Madrid Open by beating Kei Nishikori—his first top 20 win in 10 months—but lost to Kyle Edmund in the second round.[178][179]

In the second longest Wimbledon semifinal to date, Djokovic beat Nadal in five sets played over two days.[180] Djokovic then defeated Kevin Anderson in the final in straight sets to win his fourth Wimbledon title and 13th overall major title.[181] At the US Open, Djokovic defeated Juan Martín del Potro in straight sets, for his third US Open and 14th major title overall.[182]

2019: Wimbledon and 7th Australian Open titles

[edit]

Djokovic began 2019 at the Qatar Open, losing in the semifinals to Roberto Bautista Agut. As top seed at the Australian Open, he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final to claim his record seventh Australian Open and 15th major title.[183] He was then upset by Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Indian Wells Masters third round,[184] and lost in the fourth round of the Miami Open to Bautista Agut.[185] On clay, Djokovic reached the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing to Daniil Medvedev.[186] During the Madrid Open, he celebrated his 250th week at world number 1 in the ATP rankings[187] and won the title by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas.[188] At the Italian Open, he reached the final after beating Juan Martín del Potro,[189] but lost to Nadal.[190] At the French Open, Djokovic reached the semifinals without dropping a set, becoming the first man to reach 10 consecutive French Open quarterfinals. He lost a marathon five-set match to Dominic Thiem, ending a 26-match winning streak in majors and his bid for a second 'Nole Slam'.[191] Djokovic defended his title at Wimbledon, beating Roger Federer in a record 4-hour 57-minute five-set final. Despite winning fewer points, Djokovic saved two championship points to claim his fifth Wimbledon and 16th major title.[192][193] He lost in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open to eventual champion Medvedev,[194] and retired injured in the fourth round of the US Open against Stan Wawrinka.[195] In October, Djokovic won the Japan Open over John Millman[196] but lost in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters to Tsitsipas.[197] He ended the season and decade by winning his fifth Paris Masters title against Denis Shapovalov,[198] regarded as the most successful player in men's tennis during the decade.[199]

2020s

[edit]

2020: Australian Open title, 2nd Career Golden Masters

[edit]

At the inaugural 2020 ATP Cup, Djokovic led Serbia to victory with six wins, including over Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals and Rafael Nadal in the final.[200] At the Australian Open, he beat Roger Federer in the semifinals and defeated Dominic Thiem in five sets in the final, earning his eighth Australian Open and 17th Grand Slam title.[201] He regained the world No. 1 ranking[202] and became the first player in the Open Era to win Grand Slams in three different decades. It was also his first comeback win from two sets to one down in a major final.[203] Djokovic then claimed his fifth title at the Dubai Championships, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.[204][205] In June, during the Adria Tour he organized, Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19, along with several other participants, prompting criticism over the event's lack of safety protocols.[206][207][208] Djokovic later apologized, saying they believed the tournament met all health guidelines, but acknowledged they "were wrong".[209] He later described the criticism as part of a "witch hunt".[210] Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open during his fourth round match after taking a ball and hitting it towards the advertising hoarding, unintentionally striking a lineswoman in the process.[211][212] Djokovic lost in straight sets in the French Open final to Nadal.[213]

2021: Major titles on all three surfaces

[edit]

Djokovic began the year at the 2021 ATP Cup, winning both singles matches, but Serbia exited in the group stage.[214] He then won his ninth Australian Open title and 18th major overall, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final.[215] On 1 March, Djokovic tied and then surpassed Roger Federer's Open Era record of 310 weeks as world No. 1.[216][217] He suffered early losses at the Monte-Carlo Masters (to Dan Evans)[218] and Serbia Open (to Aslan Karatsev),[219] and reached the final of the Italian Open, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas and Lorenzo Sonego, before losing to Rafael Nadal.

At the French Open, he beat Nadal in a four-set semifinal and came from two sets down to defeat Tsitsipas in the final.[220] He became the first man in the Open Era to win a major after coming from two sets down twice in the same event,[221] and the first to win all four majors at least twice in the Open Era.[222][223][224] At Wimbledon, he earned his 100th grass-court win en route to the final,[225] where he defeated Matteo Berrettini to win his sixth title and 20th major, tying Federer and Nadal. He became the second man to win majors on all three surfaces in a single year (a "Surface Slam"),[226] and the fifth in the Open Era to achieve the Channel Slam (French Open and Wimbledon in the same year).[227] At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Djokovic sought a gold medal, but lost to Alexander Zverev in the semifinals and to Pablo Carreño Busta in the bronze match.[228] In mixed doubles, partnering Nina Stojanović, they reached the semifinals but withdrew from the bronze medal match due to Djokovic's shoulder injury.[229] Djokovic entered the US Open in contention for the Grand Slam, a feat in men's singles tennis achieved only by Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969. Djokovic defeated Zverev in five sets in the semifinals. In the final he "looked subdued throughout as he made a high number of uncharacteristic errors" and lost to Medvedev in straight sets.[230]

2022: Australian Open controversy

[edit]

Djokovic was set to start his 2022 season at the ATP Cup in Sydney but withdrew.[231] To compete in the Australian Open, players were required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a medical exemption. Djokovic received an exemption from Tennis Australia and the Department of Health (Victoria), citing a positive COVID-19 test on 16 December 2021.[232] He was granted a visa on 18 November 2021 and arrived in Melbourne on 5 January, but was detained by the Australian Border Force for failing to meet entry requirements for unvaccinated travellers.[233] Djokovic later admitted an error in his travel declaration form, as he had been in Spain shortly before arriving.[234] His visa was cancelled, and he was held in a detention hotel pending appeal.[235] On 10 January, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia ruled in Djokovic's favour, ordering his release and noting that he was denied enough time to consult with lawyers and tennis officials before his interview.[236] However, on 14 January, Alex Hawke, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, cancelled Djokovic's visa again under the Migration Act 1958, citing public health and order concerns.[237] The Federal Court of Australia upheld the decision, and Djokovic was deported on 16 January.[238]

2022: After Australia

[edit]

In February, Djokovic returned at the Dubai Championships, where vaccination was not required.[239] He lost in the quarterfinals to Jiří Veselý, resulting in the loss of his world No. 1 ranking to Daniil Medvedev. It was the first time since 2004 that a player outside the Big Four held the top spot.[240] Djokovic withdrew from the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open due to U.S. entry restrictions on unvaccinated foreigners.[241] Despite not playing, he regained No. 1 when Medvedev lost early at Indian Wells.[242] He began his clay season at the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing his opening match to Davidovich Fokina.[243] At the Serbia Open, he reached the final but lost to Andrey Rublev.[244] In May, he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid Open semifinals.[245] A week later, he won the Italian Open, his sixth title there and a record-extending 38th Masters crown, after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. In the semis, he claimed his 1,000th career win by beating Casper Ruud.[246][247] At the French Open, he advanced to the quarterfinals without dropping a set, but lost to Rafael Nadal in their record 59th match, ending his title defense and again dropping to No. 2.[248] At Wimbledon, he earned his 80th win at each major with a first-round victory over Kwon Soon-woo, becoming the first player to do so.[249] He reached a record 32nd Grand Slam final after defeating Cameron Norrie in the semifinals[250] and beat Nick Kyrgios in four sets to claim his seventh Wimbledon and 21st major title, surpassing Roger Federer and moving one behind Nadal.[251][252] Due to U.S. travel restrictions for unvaccinated foreigners, Djokovic was unable to enter the country and withdrew from the US Open.[253]

2023: Record-breaking 24th major & 7th ATP Finals titles

[edit]
Djokovic at the 2023 French Open

Djokovic opened the year with his 92nd title at the Adelaide International, saving a championship point to beat Sebastian Korda. At the Australian Open, despite a hamstring issue,[254] he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to claim a record-extending 10th title and reclaim the No. 1 ranking.[255][256] He missed the Indian Wells and 2023 Miami Open due to U.S. entry restrictions. During the clay season, he exited early at the Monte-Carlo Masters and Banja Luka Open, and lost in the Rome quarterfinals. At the French Open, Djokovic defeated world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semis and beat Casper Ruud in the final to win a record-breaking 23rd major, becoming the first man to achieve a triple Career Grand Slam.[257] He also regained the top ranking.[258]

At Wimbledon, Djokovic reached his 9th final but lost to Alcaraz in five sets, ending a 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon.[259] Djokovic then won the Cincinnati Open, beating Alcaraz in 3 hours and 49 minutes in the longest best-of-three-set ATP final, hailed as one of the greatest matches ever.[260] At the US Open, he triumphed over Medvedev in straight sets to win his fourth US Open title and a record-extending 24th men's singles major title overall.[261][262] Djokovic became the oldest US Open men's singles champion in the Open Era.[263][264]

Djokovic ended his season by winning the ATP Finals, clinching the year-end No.1 ranking for a record eighth time.[265]

2024: Olympic gold, Career Super Slam, oldest ATP No. 1

[edit]
Djokovic posing with his gold medal following the men's singles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics

At the Australian Open, Djokovic reached the semifinals but lost to world No. 4 Jannik Sinner in four sets, ending his 33-match win streak at the event and marking his first semifinal defeat there. He called it "one of the worst Grand Slam matches I've ever played".[266] Nonetheless, he equaled Roger Federer's record of 58 Grand Slam singles quarterfinals[267] and retained his world No. 1 ranking. At Indian Wells Masters he lost in the third round to Luca Nardi, ranked No. 123—the lowest-ranked player to beat him at a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam.[268] At the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters, he reached the semifinals but lost to Casper Ruud. In Rome, after being accidentally struck by a water bottle post-match,[269] he lost in the third round to Alejandro Tabilo. At the 2024 Geneva Open, he earned his 1,100th career win on his 37th birthday, becoming the third man in the Open Era to reach that mark, and holding the highest win percentage among them (83.5%).[270] At the French Open, Djokovic survived a five-set match against Lorenzo Musetti that ended at 3:07 a.m.—the latest finish in tournament history.[271] In the fourth round, he defeated Francisco Cerúndolo in his longest French Open match (4h39m), surpassing Federer's records for most Grand Slam match wins and quarterfinal appearances.[272] However, he suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee during that match and withdrew before the quarterfinals, losing the No. 1 ranking to Sinner.[273] At the Wimbledon Championships, Djokovic reached his 37th Grand Slam final, aiming to equal Federer's record of eight titles, but lost in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz in a repeat of the 2023 final.[274][275] At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Djokovic defeated Matthew Ebden, Rafael Nadal, Dominik Koepfer, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Lorenzo Musetti to reach his first Olympic final.[276] He then beat Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to win the gold medal, completing a Career Golden Slam and Career Super Slam.[277]

2025: 100th ATP title and further records broken

[edit]

Djokovic opened the 2025 season at the Brisbane International, losing to Reilly Opelka in the quarterfinals.[278] His second round match at the Australian Open marked his 430th career major main draw singles match, surpassing Roger Federer's all-time record.[279] He beat Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the quarter finals.[280] Djokovic retired in his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev due to a muscle tear after only one set played.[281]

At Doha he lost to Matteo Berrettini in the first round. This marked the first time Djokovic lost in any first round since the 2016 Summer Olympics. Djokovic's next tournament was the Indian Wells Open, where he suffered a 2nd round defeat to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp – the 2nd year in a row where he lost to a lucky loser at the same tournament, following Luca Nardi.

At the 2025 Miami Open, Djokovic beat lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the third round to claim his record 411th career main draw win at Masters 1000 level, surpassing Nadal's previous record of 410.[282] He lost in the final to Jakub Menšík.

In May 2025, it was announced that Andy Murray would no longer be working as Djokovic's coach, by mutual agreement reached after Djokovic started working with Murray in November 2024.[283] Djokovic took a last minute entry to the 2025 Geneva Open, where he defeated Hubert Hurkacz in the final to claim the 100th ATP singles title of his career, becoming the first ever tennis player to win at least one ATP singles title in twenty consecutive seasons, and the 3rd tennis player in the Open Era to have won 100 or more career titles (after Jimmy Connors and Federer).[284] At the French Open, Djokovic reached a record-extending 51st major semifinal, where he lost in straight sets to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.[285][286] By winning the quarterfinals, he recorded his 101st wins at the tournament, the second most after Rafael Nadal. At Wimbledon, Djokovic was again defeated by Sinner in the semifinal (his record-extending 52nd semifinal), with Djokovic noting that the "age, the wear and tear of the body" meant he was limited in his ability to beat players like Sinner or Alcaraz. It was the first time he failed to make the Wimbledon final since 2017.[287] At the US Open he lost in straight sets in the semi finals to Alcaraz.[288]

Rivalries

[edit]

Prominent rivalries

[edit]

Djokovic has a winning record against all of his top contemporaries, including his fellow Big Three counterparts, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Rafael Nadal

[edit]

Djokovic and Rafael Nadal's rivalry is the most prolific in men's tennis in the Open Era. The two faced each other 60 times, with Djokovic leading 31–29.[289][290] Djokovic leads on hard courts 20–7 while Nadal leads on clay 20–9, and they are tied on grass 2–2.[291]

Djokovic is the only player to defeat Nadal in all four majors. He is also the player with the most victories over Nadal on clay, beating him twice at the French Open and all three clay court Masters events, notably at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Masters where he ended Nadal's run of eight consecutive titles. The two contested the longest major final ever played at the 2012 Australian Open, where Djokovic won in five sets after 5 hours and 53 minutes.[292][293][294] Other classics they played include the 2009 Madrid Masters semifinal,[295] 2011 Miami Masters final,[296][297] the 2013 French Open semifinal,[298] 2018 Wimbledon semifinal,[299][300] and the 2021 French Open semifinal.[301]

Roger Federer

[edit]
Djokovic and Federer after their semifinal match at the 2011 US Open

Djokovic and Roger Federer's rivalry is considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history. They faced each other 50 times, with Djokovic leading 27–23, including 13–6 in finals (not including a 2014 walkover in favor of Djokovic). Djokovic leads on hard courts 20–18 and on grass 3–1, and they are split 4–4 on clay.[302]

Djokovic is the player with the most victories over Federer and the only player to beat Federer multiple times at his most successful major tournaments: four times at the Australian Open, three times at the US Open, three times at the Year-end Championship and most notably, three times in the final of Wimbledon Championships. Their last final was at the 2019 Wimbledon where Djokovic won in five sets in the longest final in Wimbledon history.[303][304] Other notable matches they contested are the 2014 Wimbledon and 2015 Wimbledon finals, along with semifinals at the 2010 US Open, 2011 US Open, 2011 French Open, and 2018 Paris Masters.[305][306][307]

Andy Murray

[edit]

Djokovic and Andy Murray met 36 times, with Djokovic leading 25–11.[308] Djokovic leads on hard courts 20–8 and 5–1 on clay, while Murray won their two matches on grass. Djokovic and Murray are one of two pairs to have met in each of the four major finals (the other pair being Djokovic and Nadal). The two are almost exactly the same age, with Murray being a week older than Djokovic, so they progressed through the ranks of the junior circuit together, and Murray was the winner of the first match they ever played as teenagers at Les Petits As in 2001.[33] They were the 2015 and 2016 year-end top two players in the world, with the battle for the 2016 year-end No. 1 only being decided in the final of the World Tour Finals, which was won by Murray in straight sets.[309]

One of their most notable matches was a three-set thriller at the final of the 2012 Shanghai Masters, in which Djokovic saved five championship points to win his first Shanghai Masters title and end Murray's 12–0 winning streak at the event.[310] Tennis pundits have classified many more of their matches as instant classics, such as the 2011 Italian Open semifinals, the 2012 Australian Open semifinal, 2012 US Open final, the 2015 semifinal and 2016 final at the French Open, and the 2017 Qatar Open final.[311][312]

Stan Wawrinka

[edit]

Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka have met 27 times with Djokovic leading 21–6. Although this rivalry is lopsided in favor of Djokovic, the two have contested numerous close matches, including four five-setters at the majors.[313] Wawrinka and Djokovic have met in three consecutive Australian Opens – with each match going to five sets – and a five-setter in the US Open. In the 2013 Australian Open fourth round, Djokovic won 12–10 in a fifth set, with the match being considered one of the best ever played;[314] at the 2013 US Open semifinals Djokovic won 6–4 in the fifth set; at the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals, Wawrinka won 9–7 in the fifth.[315] Wawrinka's win broke Djokovic's run of 14 consecutive major semifinals, and ended a 28-match winning streak; and Wawrinka went on to win his first major title at the tournament.[316] Djokovic got revenge the next year at the 2015 Australian Open, winning 6–0 in the fifth set.[317]

At the 2015 French Open final, Wawrinka defeated Djokovic in four sets to claim his second major title. Later that year, Djokovic beat Wawrinka at the Cincinnati Masters and Paris Masters.[318] At the 2016 US Open, Wawrinka beat Djokovic in a major final for a second time.[319]

Despite Djokovic's 21–6 overall record against Wawrinka, Wawrinka leads Djokovic 3–2 in ATP finals, two of which in major finals.[320] During Djokovic's run of 13 major finals from the 2014 Wimbledon Championships through the 2020 Australian Open, his only two losses were to Wawrinka. Contrary to most high-profile rivalries, the pair have also played doubles together.[321]

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

[edit]

Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga met 23 times, with Djokovic leading 17–6.[322] Their first meeting was in the final of the 2008 Australian Open, which Djokovic won in four sets to win his first major singles title.[322] Tsonga got revenge in their next meeting at the majors, the 2010 Australian Open quarterfinals, winning in five sets after Djokovic fell ill during the match.[323] Djokovic then won their next match at the 2011 Wimbledon semifinals to advance to his first final there, claiming the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in the process.[324] They met again in the quarterfinals of the 2012 French Open, which Djokovic won in five sets after over four hours.[325] They then played a further three matches in 2012, in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, the final of the China Open, and in the round robin stage of the ATP Finals, with Djokovic winning all of them in straight sets.[322] Their final major meeting was in the second round of the 2019 Australian Open, which Djokovic won in straight sets.[322]

Juan Martín del Potro

[edit]

Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro met 20 times, with Djokovic leading 16–4.[326] Djokovic won their first four meetings, before back-to-back victories for del Potro at the 2011 Davis Cup and their Bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics in straight sets. Djokovic won the next four matches before he lost to del Potro at the 2013 Indian Wells Masters, where the Argentine made his second career Masters final. Djokovic got the upper hand on the rivalry once again by winning two of the most important matches between them to date; an epic five-setter at the 2013 Wimbledon Championships semifinals (which was the longest Wimbledon semifinal at the time),[327] and a thrilling three-setter at the 2013 Shanghai Masters final. Del Potro upset Djokovic in the first round at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Rio en route to the final. In 2018, Djokovic defeated del Potro in three close sets in the final of the US Open, which was the first Grand Slam final for del Potro since his 2009 US Open victory. They played their last match at the 2019 Italian Open quarterfinal which Djokovic won in a dramatic three-setter after saving two match points.

Player profile

[edit]

Playing style

[edit]

Djokovic is an aggressive baseline player.[328] His groundstrokes from both wings are consistent, deep, and penetrating. His backhand is widely regarded as the greatest two-handed backhand of all time, due to its effectiveness on both sides of the court and its accuracy.[329][330][331] His best shot is his backhand down the line, with great pace and precision. He excels at returning serve in particular, and regularly ranks among the tour leaders in return points, return games, and break points won. His forehand is deemed to be underrated, yet one of the best, due to its versatility.[332] After great technical difficulties during the 2009 season (coinciding with his switch to the Head racket series), his serve is one of his major weapons again, winning him many free points; his first serve is typically hit flat, while he prefers to slice and kick his second serves wide.[328] He has also led the ATP Tour in their career "Under Pressure Rating" statistic, in part because of his prowess at winning deciding sets.[333]

Djokovic has been described as one of the fittest and most complete athletes in sports history, with high agility, court coverage and mobility, which allows him to hit winners from seemingly indefensible positions.[334][335] Because of this, coupled with flexibility and length, he rarely gets aced. Todd Martin, who coached Djokovic between 2009 and 2010, noted that:[336]

His athleticism is from another world. His return of serve is way better than any other return of serve ever and I mean way better. Nobody has gotten so many balls back and neutralized so many good serves.

Djokovic's return of serve is a big weapon for him, with which he can be both offensive and defensive. He is highly efficient off both the forehand and backhand return, often getting the return in play deep with pace, neutralizing the advantage the server usually has in a point. Andre Agassi described Djokovic's return of serve as "the precedent-setting standard for the return".[337][338] Occasionally, Djokovic employs a well-disguised backhand underspin drop shot and sliced backhand.

Djokovic commented on the modern style of play, including his own, in an interview with Jim Courier after his semifinal win against Andy Murray in the 2012 Australian Open tournament:[339]

I had a big privilege and honour to meet personally today Mr. Laver, and he is one of the biggest, and greatest players ever to play the game, thank you for staying this late, sir, thank you ... even though it would actually be better if we played a couple times serve and volley, but we don't know to play ... we are mostly around here [points to the area near the baseline], we are running, you know, around the baseline ...

In assessing Djokovic's 2011 season, Jimmy Connors said that Djokovic gives his opponents problems by playing "a little bit old-school, taking the ball earlier, catching the ball on the rise, (and) driving the ball flat". Connors adds that a lot of the topspin that Djokovic's opponents drive at him comes right into his zone, thus his ability to turn defense into offense well.[340]

Equipment

[edit]

Entering the pro circuit, Djokovic used the Head Liquidmetal Radical, but changed sponsors to Wilson in 2005. He could not find a Wilson racquet he liked, so Wilson agreed to make him a custom racquet to match his previous one with Head.[341] After the 2008 season, Djokovic re-signed with Head, and debuted a new paint job of the Head YouTek Speed Pro at the 2009 Australian Open. He then switched to the Head YouTek IG Speed (18x20) paint job in 2011, and in 2013, he again updated his paint job to the Head Graphene Speed Pro, which included an extensive promotional campaign.[342] Djokovic uses a hybrid of Head Natural Gut (gauge 16) in the mains and Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Rough (gauge 16L) in the crosses. He also uses Head Synthetic Leather Grip as a replacement grip.[343] In 2012, Djokovic appeared in a television commercial with Maria Sharapova promoting the use of Head rackets for many techniques such as golf and ten-pin bowling.[344]

Coaching and personal team

[edit]

Djokovic has worked with numerous coaches, trainers, and advisors throughout his career. His earliest mentors were Jelena Genčić and Nikola Pilić, whom he credits as foundational influences in his development. Genčić coached him in Belgrade from 1993 to 1999, while Pilić worked with him in Munich from 1999 to 2003.[14][17] In 2004 and 2005, he was coached by Dejan Petrović, during which time he rose from outside the top 300 to inside the top 100.[345] From late 2005 to mid-2006, he briefly worked with Riccardo Piatti, before parting ways due to scheduling conflicts.[66][346] From 2006 to 2017, Djokovic's main coach was Marián Vajda, who became a long-time collaborator. During this period, he also worked occasionally with specialists such as Mark Woodforde (2007) and Todd Martin (2009–2010).[347] Djokovic's physical team included physiotherapist Miljan Amanović, fitness coach Ronen Bega (until 2009), and Austrian trainer Gebhard Phil-Gritsch from 2009 onward.[348][349] In 2008, he began working with Italian agent Edoardo Artaldi, who, alongside his wife Elena Capellaro, managed Djokovic's affairs and logistics.[350] Their professional relationship lasted until 2023, despite occasional tensions, such as during the final of the 2023 Adelaide International 1 – Men's singles.[351] Nutritionist Igor Četojević joined the team in 2010 and helped reform Djokovic's diet, contributing to his physical transformation.[348][352]

Off the court

[edit]

Philanthropy

[edit]
Kindergarten in Jalovik village built by the Novak Djokovic Foundation[353]

In 2007, Djokovic founded the Novak Djokovic Foundation.[354] The organization's mission is to help children from disadvantaged communities grow up and develop in stimulating and safe environments.[355][356] The foundation partnered with the World Bank in August 2015 to promote early childhood education in Serbia.[357][358][359] His foundation has built 50 schools as of April 2022 and are building their 51st, and supported more than 20,800 children and over a thousand families.[360][361]

Djokovic participated in charity matches to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Avala Tower, as well as to aid victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2010–11 Queensland floods.[362][363][364] Starting in 2007, he has established a tradition of hosting and socializing with hundreds of Kosovo Serb children during Davis Cup matches organized in Serbia.[365] Djokovic was selected as the 2012 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year, for his contributions through the foundation, his role as a UNICEF national ambassador and other charitable projects.[366] In August 2015, he was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[367]

During the 2014 Balkans floods, Djokovic sparked worldwide financial and media support for victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.[368] After winning the 2014 Rome Masters, Djokovic donated his prize money to the flood victims in Serbia, while his foundation collected another $600,000.[368][361] Following his 2016 Australian Open victory, Djokovic donated $20,000 to Melbourne City Mission's early childhood education program to help disadvantaged children.[369] After the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Serbia in March 2020, he and his wife announced that they will donate €1 million for the purchase of ventilators and medical equipment to support hospitals and other medical institutions.[370] He also made a donation to Bergamo, Italy‚ one of the worst-affected Italian provinces, as well as to Novi Pazar, Serbia and North Mitrovica, Kosovo.[371][372][373]

Sponsorships and business ventures

[edit]

Djokovic endorses Serbian telecommunications company Telekom Srbija and German nutritional supplement brand FitLine.[374]

On turning professional in 2003, Djokovic began wearing Adidas clothing. At the end of 2009, Djokovic signed a 10-year deal with the Italian clothing company Sergio Tacchini after Adidas refused to extend his clothing contract (choosing instead to sign Andy Murray).[375] Tacchini doesn't make shoes so Djokovic continued with Adidas as his choice of footwear. His sponsorship contract with Tacchini was incentive-heavy, and Djokovic's disproportionate success and dominance in 2011 caused the company to fall behind on bonus payments, leading to the termination of the sponsorship contract.[376][377]

From 2011, Djokovic began to wear custom Red and Blue Adidas Barricade 6.0's shoes, referring to the colors of the Serbian national flag. By April 2012, the Tacchini deal had fallen first short and then apart. At that point, he was set to join forces with Nike, Inc.,[378] but instead, on 23 May 2012, Uniqlo appointed Djokovic as its global brand ambassador. The five-year sponsorship, reportedly worth €8 million per year,[379] began on 27 May 2012 in Paris' French Open tennis tournament. A year later, Djokovic's long-term footwear deal with Adidas was announced ahead of 2013 French Open.[380] Since January 2018 Novak has been wearing Asics shoes.[381][382]

In August 2011, Djokovic became the brand ambassador of Swiss watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet.[383] Less than a month later, Djokovic signed a sponsorship deal with German car company Mercedes-Benz.[384] In March 2012, Djokovic was announced by Bombardier Aerospace as its latest Learjet brand ambassador, thus joining the likes of actor and pilot John Travolta, architect Frank Gehry, maestro Valery Gergiev, and classical pianist Lang Lang.[385] From January 2014 Djokovic has been endorsing French car manufacturer Peugeot.[386] At the same time he entered into an endorsement deal with Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko,[387] having just ended his affiliation with their rivals Audemars Piguet.[388] In early 2015, ahead of the Australian Open, Djokovic teamed up with Australian banking corporation ANZ for a social media campaign to raise money for local communities across the Asia Pacific region.[389][390] At the same time his partnership with Jacob's Creek, an Australian wine brand owned by Orlando Wines, was announced in regards to the production and distribution of 'Made By' film series, a documentary style content meant to "show a side of Novak not seen before as he recounts never before told life stories from Belgrade, Serbia, celebrating what has made him the champion he is today".[391]

Since 2004, the business end of Djokovic's career has been handled by Israeli managers Amit Naor (former pro tennis player turned sports agent) and Allon Khakshouri,[392] a duo which also had Marat Safin and Dinara Safina as its clients. In June 2008, after the duo entered into a partnership with CAA Sports, the sports division of Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency, meaning that the famous company started representing tennis players for the first time,[393] Djokovic formally signed with CAA Sports.[394] After Djokovic's contract with CAA Sports expired during summer 2012, he decided to switch representation, announcing IMG Worldwide as his new representatives in December 2012.[395]

On 22 May 2017, Djokovic was unveiled as a brand ambassador of Lacoste after a five-year partnership with Uniqlo.[396]

During the 2021 US Open, some people in Djokovic's player box wore hats and shirts bearing the logo of Raiffeisen Bank International, the central back of one of the two largest banking cooperatives in Austria. In April 2021, Djokovic became a brand ambassador for RBI and its subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe. The bank will help to support Djokovic's tennis academy in Belgrade.[397] Djokovic did not wear the RBI logo, but he did wear on his shirt the logo of UKG, an American workforce management and human resource management company. People in his box wore the logo on hats as well. UKG lists Djokovic as one of their sponsored athletes.[398]

Investments

[edit]

In 2005, as Djokovic moved up the tennis rankings, he began venturing into the business world. Most of his activities in the business arena have been channeled through Family Sport, a legal entity in Serbia established and run by members of his immediate family. Registered as a limited liability company, Family Sport initially focused on hospitality, specifically the restaurant business, by launching Novak Café & Restaurant, a franchise developed on the theme of Djokovic's tennis success. Over time, the company, whose day-to-day operations are mostly handled by Novak's father Srdjan and uncle Goran, expanded its activities into real estate, sports/entertainment event organization, and sports apparel distribution.[399]

The company launched Novak Café & Restaurant in 2008 in the Belgrade municipality of Novi Beograd, the flagship location in a franchised chain of theme café-restaurants. During 2009, two more locations were added—one in Kragujevac and the other in Belgrade, the city's second, in September at the neighbourhood of Dorćol overlooking the playing courts of Serbia Open whose inaugural edition took place several months earlier.[400] On 16 December 2011 a location in Novi Sad was opened,[401] however, it operated just over three years before closing in late March 2015.[402] Banja Luka in neighbouring Bosnia got its Novak Café & Restaurant location on 16 October 2015 within Hotel Trešnja on Banj hill.[403][404]

In 2009, the company bought a 250-series ATP tournament known as the Dutch Open and moved it to Serbia where it was renamed the Serbia Open. With the help of Belgrade city authorities, the tournament's inaugural edition was held in May 2009 at the city-owned "Milan Gale Muškatirović" courts, located at an attractive spot in Dorćol neighbourhood.[405] The tournament folded in 2012 after four editions and its place in the ATP calendar got taken over by the Düsseldorf Open.

In May 2015, right after winning his fourth Rome Masters title, Djokovic launched a line of nutritional food products, called Djokolife.[406] On 10 April 2016, while in town for the Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic opened a vegan restaurant called Eqvita in Monte Carlo.[407] The restaurant reportedly closed in March 2019.[408]

Djokovic has 80% stake in biotech firm QuantBioRes which claims to be developing a drug to treat patients who have contracted COVID-19.[409] Their research is based on electromagnetic frequency; one biomedical scientist likened it to homeopathy and argued that it "does not reflect a contemporary understanding of how biochemistry works", while Peter Collignon commented that their website "describes a way of finding a new molecule without providing any evidence of success".[410]

In August 2025, Djokovic became a co-owner of French Ligue 2 club Le Mans FC through the Brazilian consortium OutField, alongside Formula One drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen, and Georgios Frangulis, CEO of OakBerry.[411][412]

Professional Tennis Players Association

[edit]

In August 2020, Djokovic resigned from the Players Council of the Association of Tennis Professionals and formed the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) with Vasek Pospisil.[413] The pair serve as co-presidents of the new organization to promote the interests of male and female tennis players above a ranking of 500 in singles and 200 in doubles,[414] and wishing to give players more influence on tour.[415]

[edit]

Throughout the latter part of the 2007 season, including before Wimbledon and during US Open, his comedic impressions of fellow contemporary tennis players received much media play.[416] It began when a BBC camera crew recorded some footage of the twenty-year-old impersonating Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Goran Ivanišević, and Lleyton Hewitt on a practice court at London's Queen's Club Championships just before Wimbledon.[417] The material — consisting of Djokovic imitating the said players by exaggerating their trademark physical gestures or nervous tics for the entertainment of his coaching team Marián Vajda and Mark Woodforde — aired during BBC's coverage of the tournament and subsequently became popular online.[418] Two months later at the US Open, a phone video shot by Argentine players of Djokovic doing locker room impressions of players such as Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Filippo Volandri and Nadal made its way online, becoming viral.[417][419] A few days later, after beating Carlos Moyá in the quarterfinals, USA Network's on-court interviewer Michael Barkann asked Djokovic to perform some impressions and the player obliged by doing Sharapova and Nadal.[420][421][422]

In addition to Djokovic, the national surge in the popularity of tennis was also inspired by three other up-and-coming young players: twenty-year-old Ana Ivanovic, twenty-two-year-old Jelena Janković, and twenty-three-year-old Janko Tipsarević as evidenced in early December 2007 when a sports-entertainment show named NAJJ Srbije (The Best of Serbia), put together in honour of the four players' respective successes in the 2007 season, drew a capacity crowd to Belgrade's Kombank Arena.[423][424] In May 2008, he was a special guest during the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Belgrade that year. He threw a big tennis ball into the crowd, announcing the start of the voting and together with one of the show's co-presenters, Željko Joksimović, Djokovic sang Đorđe Marjanović's song "Beograde".[425]

Throughout late April and early May 2009, during ATP Master Series tournaments in Rome and Madrid, respectively, the Serb was a guest on the Fiorello Show on Sky Uno hosted by Italian comedian Rosario Fiorello[426] followed by an appearance on Pablo Motos' show El Hormiguero.[427]

Djokovic is also featured in the music video for the song "Hello" by Martin Solveig and Dragonette. The video, filmed at Stade Roland Garros, shows Solveig facing off against Bob Sinclar, another DJ, in a tennis match. When the referee calls a crucial ball "Out", Djokovic enters the arena and convinces the referee otherwise.[428] In 2010, the Serbian blues-rock band Zona B recorded the song "The Joker", dedicating it to Djokovic.[429][430]

Djokovic with Emir Kusturica in Andrićgrad in January 2014, where he received Key to the City

On 25 June 2011, at the Serbian National Defense Council's seventieth congress in Chicago, Djokovic was unanimously awarded the Order of Serbian National Defense in America I class – the highest decoration of the SND. The order was given to the twenty-four-year-old for his merits on the international sports scene and his contributions to the reputation of Serbs and Serbia around the world.[431] The day after winning his first Wimbledon title and reaching the No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career, Djokovic went home to Belgrade for a homecoming celebration in front of the Serbian National Assembly, an event attended by close to 100,000 people.[432]

On 28 November 2011, after returning from London where he finished early due to failing to progress out of his round-robin group, Djokovic visited his childhood tennis coach Jelena Genčić at her Belgrade home, bringing the Wimbledon trophy along.[433] The meeting, reportedly their first in more than four years, was recorded by two television crews – a Serbian one shooting for Aleksandar Gajšek's show Agape on Studio B television[434][435] and an American one from CBS television network filming material for Djokovic's upcoming piece on 60 Minutes. The next day, 29 November 2011, on invitation from film producer Avi Lerner, Djokovic was part of the high-budget Hollywood movie production The Expendables 2 in a cameo playing himself[436] that was shot in a warehouse in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.[437] However, his bit part was later cut out of the final version of the movie.[438]

In March 2012, he was profiled on the CBS show 60 Minutes by their correspondent Bob Simon. He was named amongst the 100 most influential people of 2012 by TIME magazine.[439]

Djokovic has been a guest on late-night talk shows, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Veče sa Ivanom Ivanovićem, Conan, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Jonathan Ross Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[440]

In April 2021, a team of Balkan biospeleologists named a recently discovered freshwater snail species Travunijana djokovici after Djokovic.[441]

In 2022, a book titled Facing Novak Djokovic, a compilation of interviews with ATP players who described in detail what it's like to compete against Djokovic, was published.[442]

In 2022, Nikola Vesović, a research associate at the University of Belgrade, announced that a new species of beetle in the genus Duvalius recently discovered near the town of Ljubovija, Serbia, had been named Duvalius djokovici after Djokovic.[443]

Djokovic appears in the 2024 documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days about Roger Federer's final tournament before his retirement, the 2022 Laver Cup. In July 2024, Djokovic became the first man and the first athlete on the cover of Vogue Adria.[444] He appeared on the front cover of the 2024 video game Tiebreak: Official game of the ATP and WTA, alongside Coco Gauff. One of the game's features is a ""Novak Djokovic Slam Challenge".[445][446]

Views on diet, medicine and science

[edit]

Since 2010, he has been connected with the nutritionist Igor Četojević who additionally focuses on Chinese medicine and performs acupuncture.[348] He allegedly discovered that Djokovic suffers from gluten intolerance, using applied kinesiology, and that he should not eat gluten, removing it from his diet.[352] He eventually settled on a vegan diet, while later sometimes eating fish.[447] He also claims this vegan, plant-based diet cured his persistent allergies and mild asthma.[448] The gluten-free diet has been credited for improving his endurance on the court and playing a role in his subsequent success.[449][450]

Following his elbow surgery in 2018, he stated that he "cried for three days" after it, feeling guilty, because he was "not a fan of surgeries or medications" and wanted "to be as natural as possible". He further stated his belief that human "bodies are self-healing mechanisms".[451][452]

In his 2013 autobiography, Serve to Win, he wrote of a "researcher" who directed "anger, fear, hostility" at a glass of water, which turned "slightly green" after a few days, while also directing "love, joy" at another glass of water, which remained "bright and crystal clear" in the same period.[352][453] In 2020, Djokovic spoke of his belief that "some people" used "prayer" and "gratitude" to "turn the most toxic food, or maybe most polluted water into the most healing water." He also stated that "scientists [have] proven" that "molecules in the water react to our emotions" and speech.[454][455] Such claims are scientifically dubious,[456][457] and generally regarded as superstitious beliefs.[458]

Opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandate

[edit]

During the ATP Tour's shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a Facebook live stream with other Serbian athletes hosted in April 2020, Djokovic indicated he opposes vaccination and would not be forced to take a COVID vaccine just to be able to return to the Тour.[452][459] He later clarified his remarks by stating that he is not against all kinds of vaccines, but that he is against forced vaccination.[460] He added that he was extremely careful about what he puts into his body.[460]

Djokovic's views came under increased scrutiny in late 2021, in the run-up to the 2022 Australian Open, after comments made by Australian government officials indicated that tennis players would need to be vaccinated to enter the tournament.[461] Prior to the tournament, Djokovic had refused to state publicly whether he was vaccinated or not, but had made comments stating his concern over the possibility of a hotel quarantine in Australia.[462] However, while being interviewed by the Australian Border Force in January 2022, Djokovic confirmed to the officer interviewing him that he was unvaccinated.[463][464]

"The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else."

—Djokovic, on why he is willing to forgo playing major tournaments.

Several commentators feel that Djokovic's stance against the COVID-19 vaccine could damage his placement among the all-time great tennis players as he would not be able to participate in the major tournaments where vaccination is required for entry[465] while others have applauded his view of having a choice.[466][467][468] He was unable to play the 2022 Australian Open, where he was the defending champion and the favorite to win.[469][470] Shortly thereafter, he lost the No. 1 ranking he had held for a record 373 weeks. Due to the federal government's vaccination policy for non-US citizens, Djokovic was unable to enter the United States to play the 2022 US Open, another major tournament he was the favorite to win.[471]

In an interview with the BBC on 15 February 2022, a few weeks after the tournament, Djokovic stated he does not associate with the wider anti-vax movement. However, he believes in personal freedom of choice and supports an individual's right to choose whether or not they receive a vaccine. He re-affirmed sticking to his principles and refusal to receive a vaccine, saying that he would be willing to forgo entry into tournaments which are held in countries mandating the vaccine even if it cost him his career records and placement among the all-time great players.[472]

Faith and religious beliefs

[edit]

Djokovic is a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He was baptized in May 1992 at the Žiča Monastery, alongside his mother and younger brother Marko.[473] On 28 April 2011, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia awarded Djokovic the Order of St. Sava I class, the highest decoration of the Serbian Orthodox Church, for his contributions to monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and charitable work in Serbia.[474] He has said that he admired and held in high regard Bishop Amfilohije, who played a key part in helping him through a tough time during the Yugoslav Wars.[475]

Djokovic has been reported to meditate for up to an hour a day at the Buddhist Buddhapadipa Temple in Wimbledon as he appreciates the natural setting and serenity, and is close to monks in the complex.[476] He has spoken of the positive power of meditation.[477][478][479] He is a frequent visitor of the Bosnian town of Visoko and its park that is host to several meditation platforms.[480]

Support of sport and sportspeople

[edit]

Djokovic is a fan of Serbian football club Red Star,[481] Italian club Milan,[482] and Portuguese club Benfica,[483] as well as Serbian basketball club Red Star.[484][485] He has also shown public support for Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and when faced with criticism from some within his native country of Serbia, Djokovic replied that "sports have their 'universal language,' they erase boundaries between people, [and] overcome differences in religion, race and nationality."[486][487][488] Djokovic has expressed admiration for Croatian football player Luka Modrić, who plays for Real Madrid.[489][490][491] He is a friend of former Serbian tennis player Ana Ivanovic, whom he has known since the two were children growing up in Serbia.[492]

Djokovic is a member of the "Champions for Peace" club, a group of elite athletes committed to serving peace in the world through sport. It was created by Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization.[493]

Political statements

[edit]

Following his victory in the first round of the 2023 French Open, Djokovic wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on the lens of a camera, in response to the recent clashes in Kosovo. The statement was criticized as inappropriate by France's then-minister of sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, with the Kosovo Olympic Committee asking the IOC to open disciplinary proceedings against the athlete.[494] Djokovic later said he was against any kind of conflict but defended his statement by opining: "Especially as a son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to the entirety of Serbia. Kosovo is our cradle, our stronghold, centre of the most important things for our country. There are many reasons why I wrote that on the camera."[495]

Legacy

[edit]

"I believe that numbers are numbers and statistics are statistics and, in that sense, I think he [Djokovic] has better numbers than mine and that is indisputable. It is not beneath me nor do I have an ego big enough to try and disguise a reality that is not. This is the truth. The rest are tastes, inspiration, sensations that one player or the other may transmit to you, that you may like one or the other more. I think that with respect to titles, Djokovic is the best in history and there is nothing to discuss in that."

Rafael Nadal on Djokovic's legacy.[496][497][498]

Djokovic is regarded by many observers, tennis players and coaches as the greatest tennis player of all time, primarily for his achievements across all top-level tournaments of the men's professional tour in addition to his time spent with the world No. 1 ranking. Some media outlets, including Reuters, Sports Illustrated,[499] ESPN, Marca,[500][501] Forbes,[502] Tennis World USA,[503] Australian Broadcasting Corporation,[504] and Sporting News have named Djokovic the greatest male tennis player in history.[505]

Djokovic has won a record 72 Big Titles, including an all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, and holds the most weeks at No. 1, the most wins over top 5 and top 10-ranked players, has won all major and Masters events and the year-end championships at least twice (which has not been done by another player once) and has a winning head-to-head record over his greatest rivals in one of the strongest eras of tennis.[506][507][508][509][510][511][512] Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev labelled Djokovic the "greatest tennis player in history" after winning his first major title at the 2021 US Open over Djokovic.[513] Pat Cash emphasized that Djokovic is one of two players who beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open, which he considers to be "the biggest challenge in tennis".[514] Richard Krajicek and The Roar, sports opinion website, said that Djokovic should be considered for the greatest player of all time because he is the only one among his rivals who has won all four majors consecutively.[515][516][517] Patrick Mouratoglou stated, "Novak is the most complete player of all times. That enables him to find the solution to most of the problems on court and this, on every surface. It explains why he is now in the best position to become the GOAT".[518][519] Rafael Nadal has praised Djokovic's peak level of performance, stating in 2011 (when he went 0–6 against Djokovic for the season) that "[Djokovic's level is] probably the highest level of tennis that I ever saw."[520] Nadal reiterated this after a one-sided loss in the 2016 Qatar Open final, stating that "I played against a player who did everything perfectly. I don't know anybody who's ever played tennis like this. Since I know this sport I've never seen somebody playing at this level."[521] In 2017, Nadal stated that "at a technical level, when Djokovic has been at the top of his game, I have to say that I've been up against an invincible player."[522][523] In 2023, former world No. 7 Mardy Fish also declared that Djokovic in 2011 was the "best player of all time".[524] In 2023, Boris Becker compared Djokovic to Lionel Messi, Tom Brady and LeBron James in their respective sports, saying that "For me, he is the lion king".[525]

Tennis coach Nick Bollettieri praised Djokovic as "the most complete player ever" in 2011,[526] and "the most perfect player of all time" in 2015:[527]

When you look at match players in the history of tennis, I don't believe that anybody can equal everything on the court that Djokovic does. I don't think you can find a weakness in his game. His movement, personality, his return of serve, his serve, excellent touch, not hesitant in coming to the net, great serve. Overall, almost every player has a downfall; to me, he doesn't have one. He's perhaps the best put-together player that I've seen over 60 years.[528]

Andre Agassi, stated in an interview in 2019 with the Times of India that:

The highest standard of tennis that I've ever seen is when Novak is playing his best tennis. The single level, for whatever my tennis IQ is worth, is an unmistakable standard to which everybody will strive to be.[529]

Pete Sampras, who at the time of his retirement in 2003 was considered by some to be the greatest male tennis player of all time, stated after Djokovic earned a record-breaking seventh year-end No. 1 finish in 2021:

Seven years for him, I'm sure he sees it as a bonus to all the majors that he's won, but I think he'll appreciate it more as he gets older. He did it at a time where [sic] he dominated two of the greats, in Roger and Rafa, and he handled the next generation of players very well – all at the same time. I do think what Novak's done over the past 10 years, winning the majors, being consistent, finishing number one for seven years, to me it's a clear sign that he is the greatest of all time.[509][530]

Some press reports have also called Djokovic one of the greatest athletes of all time.[531][532]

Tennis pundits have classified many of Djokovic's matches as some of the greatest contests ever, such as the 2012 Australian Open final, in which he beat Nadal in five long and gruelling sets.[292][533] Other matches include the five-set 2013 Australian Open fourth round against Stan Wawrinka,[534][535] the 2018 Wimbledon semifinal against Nadal, which lasted five brutal sets played over two days,[536][537] the five-set 2019 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer, the longest Wimbledon final in history,[538][539] and the 2023 Cincinnati Masters final against Carlos Alcaraz, the longest best-of-three-sets final in ATP Tour history.[540]

Nadal has also called Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time in 2024.[541] Some analysts claim that the Djokovic–Nadal rivalry ranks as the best rivalry in tennis history because of the quality of matches they produce.[542][543]

Career statistics

[edit]

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

[edit]
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through the 2025 US Open.

Tournament 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 SR W–L Win %
Australian Open 1R 1R 4R W QF QF W W W QF W W 2R 4R W W W A[A] W SF SF 10 / 20 99–10 91%
French Open 2R QF SF SF 3R QF SF[B] F SF F F W QF QF SF F W QF W QF[C] SF 3 / 21 101–17 86%
Wimbledon 3R 4R SF 2R QF SF W SF F W W 3R QF W W NH[D] W W F F[B] SF 7 / 20 102–13 89%
US Open 3R 3R F SF SF F W F F SF W F[B] A W 4R 4R[E] F A[F] W 3R SF 4 / 19 95–15 86%
Win–loss 5–4 9–4 19–4 18–3 15–4 19–4 25–1 24–3 24–3 22–3 27–1 21–2 9–3 21–2 22–2 16–2 27–1 11–1 27–1 16–3 20–4 24 / 80 397–55 88%
  1. ^ Djokovic was scheduled to play the 2022 Australian Open, but his visa was cancelled for being unvaccinated against COVID-19.
  2. ^ a b c Djokovic had a walkover at three events; hence, these are not counted as match wins.
  3. ^ Djokovic withdrew from the quarterfinals of 2024 French Open due to a knee injury.
  4. ^ The event of 2020 Wimbledon was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  5. ^ Djokovic was disqualified from the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a line official with a ball that was not in play.
  6. ^ Djokovic withdrew from the 2022 US Open due to the federal government's COVID-19 vaccination policy for non-US citizens.

Grand Slam tournament finals: 37 (24 titles, 13 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 2007 US Open Hard Switzerland Roger Federer 6–7(4–7), 6–7(2–7), 4–6
Win 2008 Australian Open Hard France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(7–2)
Loss 2010 US Open Hard Spain Rafael Nadal 4–6, 7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Win 2011 Australian Open (2) Hard United Kingdom Andy Murray 6–4, 6–2, 6–3
Win 2011 Wimbledon Grass Spain Rafael Nadal 6–4, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3
Win 2011 US Open Hard Spain Rafael Nadal 6–2, 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–1
Win 2012 Australian Open (3) Hard Spain Rafael Nadal 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 7–5
Loss 2012 French Open Clay Spain Rafael Nadal 4–6, 3–6, 6–2, 5–7
Loss 2012 US Open Hard United Kingdom Andy Murray 6–7(10–12), 5–7, 6–2, 6–3, 2–6
Win 2013 Australian Open (4) Hard United Kingdom Andy Murray 6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–3), 6–3, 6–2
Loss 2013 Wimbledon Grass United Kingdom Andy Murray 4–6, 5–7, 4–6
Loss 2013 US Open Hard Spain Rafael Nadal 2–6, 6–3, 4–6, 1–6
Loss 2014 French Open Clay Spain Rafael Nadal 6–3, 5–7, 2–6, 4–6
Win 2014 Wimbledon (2) Grass Switzerland Roger Federer 6–7(7–9), 6–4, 7–6(7–4), 5–7, 6–4
Win 2015 Australian Open (5) Hard United Kingdom Andy Murray 7–6(7–5), 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 6–0
Loss 2015 French Open Clay Switzerland Stan Wawrinka 6–4, 4–6, 3–6, 4–6
Win 2015 Wimbledon (3) Grass Switzerland Roger Federer 7–6(7–1), 6–7(10–12), 6–4, 6–3
Win 2015 US Open (2) Hard Switzerland Roger Federer 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
Win 2016 Australian Open (6) Hard United Kingdom Andy Murray 6–1, 7–5, 7–6(7–3)
Win 2016 French Open Clay United Kingdom Andy Murray 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
Loss 2016 US Open Hard Switzerland Stan Wawrinka 7–6(7–1), 4–6, 5–7, 3–6
Win 2018 Wimbledon (4) Grass South Africa Kevin Anderson 6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–3)
Win 2018 US Open (3) Hard Argentina Juan Martín del Potro 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
Win 2019 Australian Open (7) Hard Spain Rafael Nadal 6–3, 6–2, 6–3
Win 2019 Wimbledon (5) Grass Switzerland Roger Federer 7–6(7–5), 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 13–12(7–3)
Win 2020 Australian Open (8) Hard Austria Dominic Thiem 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 2020 French Open Clay Spain Rafael Nadal 0–6, 2–6, 5–7
Win 2021 Australian Open (9) Hard Russia Daniil Medvedev 7–5, 6–2, 6–2
Win 2021 French Open (2) Clay Greece Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–7(6–8), 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4
Win 2021 Wimbledon (6) Grass Italy Matteo Berrettini 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 2021 US Open Hard Russia Daniil Medvedev 4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Win 2022 Wimbledon (7) Grass Australia Nick Kyrgios 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Win 2023 Australian Open (10) Hard Greece Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5)
Win 2023 French Open (3) Clay Norway Casper Ruud 7–6(7–1), 6–3, 7–5
Loss 2023 Wimbledon Grass Spain Carlos Alcaraz 6–1, 6–7(6–8), 1–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 2023 US Open (4) Hard Russia Daniil Medvedev 6–3, 7–6(7–5), 6–3
Loss 2024 Wimbledon Grass Spain Carlos Alcaraz 2–6, 2–6, 6–7(4–7)

Year–End Championships performance timeline

[edit]
Tournament 20032006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 SR W–L Win %
ATP Finals DNQ RR W RR SF RR W W W W F DNQ F RR SF SF W W A 7 / 16 50–18 74%

Year–end championship finals: 9 (7 titles, 2 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 2008 Tennis Masters Cup Hard (i) Russia Nikolay Davydenko 6–1, 7–5
Win 2012 ATP World Tour Finals (2) Hard (i) Switzerland Roger Federer 7–6(8–6), 7–5
Win 2013 ATP World Tour Finals (3) Hard (i) Spain Rafael Nadal 6–3, 6–4
Win 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (4) Hard (i) Switzerland Roger Federer walkover
Win 2015 ATP World Tour Finals (5) Hard (i) Switzerland Roger Federer 6–3, 6–4
Loss 2016 ATP World Tour Finals Hard (i) United Kingdom Andy Murray 3–6, 4–6
Loss 2018 ATP Finals Hard (i) Germany Alexander Zverev 4–6, 3–6
Win 2022 ATP Finals (6) Hard (i) Norway Casper Ruud 7–5, 6–3
Win 2023 ATP Finals (7) Hard (i) Italy Jannik Sinner 6–3, 6–3

Olympic gold medal matches: 1 (singles Gold medal)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 2024 Paris Olympics Clay Spain Carlos Alcaraz 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–2)

Records and achievements

[edit]

All-time records

[edit]
Event Since Record accomplished Players matched
ATP/ITF rankings 1973 Most weeks at world No. 1 (428)[217] Stands alone
Most weeks in top 2 (599) Stands alone
Most weeks in top 3 (756) Stands alone
13 different years ranked world No. 1 Stands alone
Most points accumulated as world No. 1 (16,950) Stands alone
Oldest player ranked at world No. 1 (37 years) Stands alone
Eight-time Year-End world No. 1 Stands alone
1978 Eight-time ITF World Champion Stands alone
Grand Slam
tournaments
1877 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles[544] Stands alone
1905 Triple Career Grand Slam[222] Stands alone
1978 Champion of all four majors at once across three different surfaces Stands alone
1970 Career Super Slam (Career Golden Slam + Year-end Championships) Andre Agassi
Career Golden Slam (All four Majors + Olympic gold) Andre Agassi
Rafael Nadal
1905 Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam Don Budge
1978 Surface Slam (major titles across all three different surfaces in a season) Rafael Nadal
1877 4 streaks of 3+ consecutive majors Stands alone
4 seasons winning 3 Major titles Stands alone
7 seasons winning multiple Major titles Stands alone
37 men's major singles finals Stands alone
53 men's major singles semifinals Stands alone
64 men's major singles quarterfinals Stands alone
397 match wins at majors Stands alone
1905 7+ finals at all four majors Stands alone
3+ consecutive finals at all four majors Stands alone
Most match wins at all four majors (95)[545] Stands alone
1877 5 winning streaks of 26+ matches at majors Stands alone
27 match-winning streak at majors in season Stands alone
1978 30 consecutive match wins at majors across three different surfaces Stands alone
1891 7+ titles at two majors with two distinct surfaces (hard & grass) Stands alone
1978 14 hard-court majors Stands alone
1877 Won a major from 2 sets down in multiple matches Stands alone
Won 2 majors after saving 1+ match points Rod Laver
Carlos Alcaraz
Australian Open 1905 10 men's singles titles Stands alone
ATP Tour 1970 Champion of all four majors and Year-end Championship at once Stands alone
1990 Big Title Sweep[546] Stands alone
Multiple champion at all annual Big Titles Stands alone
72 Big Titles won[547] Stands alone
10 Big Titles in a season (2015) Stands alone
6+ Big Titles at one tournament on hard, clay, grass and indoors[b] Stands alone
107 Big finals Stands alone
18 Big finals in a row Stands alone
1973 262 wins over Top-10 players[548] Stands alone
126 wins over Top-5 players[549] Stands alone
1970 15 straight finals reached in a season (2015) Stands alone
31 wins over Top-10 players in a season (2015) Stands alone
ATP Masters 1990 Career Golden Masters[c][551] Stands alone
Double Career Golden Masters Stands alone
40 Masters singles titles Stands alone
60 Masters singles finals Stands alone
6 Masters titles in season (2015) Stands alone
8 Masters finals in season (2015) Stands alone
12 consecutive Masters finals won Stands alone
31 consecutive match wins at Masters Stands alone
418 match wins[282] Stands alone
513 matches played Stands alone
ATP Finals 1970 7 Year-end Championship titles Stands alone
4 consecutive Year-end Championship titles Stands alone
Winner of the Year-end Championship in three different decades Stands alone
Olympics 1896 Winning an Olympic gold medal in men's singles without dropping a set (2024) Laurence Doherty
Beals Wright

Open Era records

[edit]
  • These records were attained in the Open Era of tennis and in ATP Masters series since 1990.
  • Records in bold indicate peerless achievements.

Professional awards

[edit]

Other achievements

[edit]
  • Career Golden Slam: In 2024, by winning the singles gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Djokovic achieved the Career Golden Slam, which consists of a tennis player getting the achievement of winning all four majors and the Olympic gold medal during his career.
  • Career Super Slam: This refers to the achievement of a tennis player winning all four majors, the Olympic gold medal, and the year-end championship throughout a career. Djokovic also secured the Career Super Slam by winning the singles gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
  • Channel Slam: An achievement that refers to the feat of a tennis player winning both the French Open and Wimbledon in a calendar year. Djokovic secured the Channel Slam by winning the aforementioned titles in the 2021 season.
  • Career Grand Slam: The feat achieved by a tennis player when winning the four majors in either singles, doubles or mixed doubles, throughout his career at least one time each. Djokovic secured the Career Grand Slam when winning the French Open singles title in the 2016 season.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]

Sources

[edit]
  • Bowers, Chris (2014). Novak Djokovic and the Rise of Serbia: The Sporting Statesman. John Blake. ISBN 978-1-78219-770-6.
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Novak Djokovic (born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player who holds the men's record of 24 singles titles, including 10 at the , a record 40 titles, and seven championships. He completed a career Golden Slam with Olympic gold in men's singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeating in the final after earning bronze in 2008. Djokovic has spent a record 428 weeks at world No. 1 and secured 101 singles titles, with sustained rivalries against and defining men's tennis from 2008 to 2022.

Early Life and Formative Years

Childhood and Family Background

Novak Djokovic was born on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His parents, Srdjan and Dijana Djokovic (née Žagar), ran a modest family business with a pizza parlor and ski equipment rentals at the Kopaonik resort, where Srdjan had worked as a professional skier and coach. Of Serbian descent on his father's side and Croatian heritage on his mother's, neither parent played tennis but prioritized their children's athletic pursuits amid economic constraints. Djokovic grew up with two younger brothers, Marko and Djordje, both of whom briefly pursued professional tennis before other careers. The family lived mainly in Belgrade but visited Kopaonik, where Djokovic discovered tennis at age four, sharing courts and basic equipment due to scarce resources. His childhood overlapped with the Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001), including the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia. At age 12, Djokovic sheltered in mountain basements during airstrikes on Belgrade that disrupted infrastructure and civilian life. The family endured shortages, with Djokovic recalling dawn queues with his grandfather for bread to feed everyone amid blackouts and displacement threats. Despite this, his parents supported early training through local programs and relocated him at 12 to Niki Pilić's academy in Munich for superior coaching and stability.

Tennis Beginnings and Junior Successes

Djokovic began playing tennis at age four in 1991, when his parents provided a miniature racket and foam ball at their family's facilities in Belgrade, then part of Yugoslavia. Supported by parents Srdjan and Dijana, who ran a pizza restaurant and ski equipment rental, he joined local training camps, building an early passion for the sport. At age six, during a 1993 summer camp at Kopaonik resort, coach Jelena Genčić—previously mentor to Monica Seles—recognized his focus, agility, and technical skill. She coached him for six years at Belgrade's Partizan Tennis Club, stressing footwork, stroke consistency, and mental resilience amid the 1990s Yugoslav Wars' limitations. Djokovic maintained daily practice through the 1999 NATO bombing, using makeshift indoor setups or bomb shelters, which sharpened his adaptability. His junior career showed regional dominance, including the 2001 European under-14 title after his international debut win in Messina, Italy, and the under-16 crown by 2003. The ITF junior singles record was 40–11 (82% win rate), with a career-high No. 24 ranking in February 2004; highlights included two Grade-4 titles and a Grand Slam semifinal, but no junior majors. At 14, he claimed European championships in singles, doubles, and team events, foreshadowing his 2003 professional turn at age 16.

Professional Career Trajectory

Emergence on the ATP Tour (2003–2005)

Djokovic turned professional in 2003 at age 16, initially competing in ITF Futures events after receiving a wildcard for his debut match in Oberschleißheim in January. He captured his first professional title at the Belgrade Futures tournament later that year, finishing the season ranked No. 679. In 2004, Djokovic transitioned to higher-level competition, winning his first ATP Challenger title at the Budapest Open in May after advancing through qualifying and defeating six opponents, including Ivo Karlović in the final. He made his ATP Tour main draw debut at the Umag Croatia Open in July, shortly after turning 17, where he recorded his first tour-level victory before losing in the second round to Filippo Volandri. Additional ATP appearances included early-round exits against players like David Ferrer and Dennis van Scheppingen, contributing to a year-end ranking of No. 186. Djokovic's 2005 season represented further emergence, with an 11–11 win-loss record on the ATP Tour. Ranked No. 188 entering the year, he qualified for his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open but fell in the first round to Marat Safin, 6–0, 6–2, 6–1. He secured his first major main-draw victory at the French Open, defeating Robby Ginepri 6–0, 6–0, 7–6(5) before exiting in the second round. Later, he advanced to the third round of the US Open for his best Grand Slam result to date. These performances propelled him to a career-high ranking inside the top 100, ending the year at No. 78.

Breakthrough Titles and Major Debuts (2006–2008)

Djokovic won his first ATP Tour singles title at the 2006 Amersfoort Open, defeating Nicolás Massú in the final on July 23, followed by the Moselle Open in Metz on October 8. These breakthroughs propelled him to a year-end No. 16 ranking. In Grand Slams, he lost in the first round at the Australian Open, reached the fourth round at the French Open (to Rafael Nadal) and Wimbledon (to Mario Ančić), and the third round at the US Open (to Mikhail Youzhny). In 2007, Djokovic secured five ATP titles, including his first Masters 1000 events at the Miami Open on April 1 and Canada Open in Montreal on August 12, plus Adelaide, Estoril, and Vienna. He advanced to the semifinals at the French Open (lost to Nadal) and Wimbledon (to Roger Federer), quarterfinals at the Australian Open (to Federer), and his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, where Federer won 7–6(4), 7–6(2), 6–4. These results raised him to year-end No. 3. Djokovic captured his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(2) after beating Federer in the semifinals. He added Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells on March 23 and Rome on May 11, along with Cincinnati and Beijing. These successes established his elite status through deep major runs and versatile surface play.

Establishing Dominance (2009–2011)

In 2009, Djokovic won five ATP titles: Dubai Tennis Championships, Serbia Open in Belgrade, China Open in Beijing, Swiss Indoors in Basel, and Paris Masters (his second at the latter). He reached the US Open semifinals, defeating top-10 players before losing to Roger Federer, with quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and a third-round exit at the French Open. These results led to a year-end No. 3 ranking and 78–19 win-loss record. The 2010 season brought challenges from elbow and other injuries, restricting Djokovic to two titles: Dubai Tennis Championships and China Open. He advanced to semifinals at the Australian Open (lost to Federer), Wimbledon and US Open (both to Nadal), and quarterfinals at the French Open. Djokovic helped Serbia claim its first Davis Cup, winning key matches against France's Michaël Llodra and Gaël Monfils in the Belgrade final on December 3–5. He finished No. 3 with a 43–10 tour record. Djokovic's 2011 season signaled his dominance, starting with a straight-sets Australian Open final win over Andy Murray (6–4, 6–2, 6–3) on January 30 for his second major. He captured 10 titles, including three Grand Slams—Australian Open, Wimbledon (defeating Nadal 6–4, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3 in the final on July 3), and US Open (beating Nadal 6–2, 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–1 on September 11)—plus five ATP Masters 1000 events: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, and Canada, equaling the record. A 43-match streak from December 2010 ended in the French Open semifinals against Nadal, yielding a 70–6 record. He first reached No. 1 after the Wimbledon semifinal over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on July 1 (official July 4), holding it year-end. Head-to-head, he went 5–0 versus Federer and 4–1 against Nadal in finals, reshaping the era's dynamics.

Consistent Excellence and Major Hauls (2012–2015)

In 2012, Djokovic defended his Australian Open title, defeating Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final in history (5 hours and 53 minutes), 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5. He posted a 75–12 win-loss record, claimed six ATP titles including the Australian Open and ATP Finals (beating Federer 7–6(5), 7–5), and secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking for the second straight year along with the ITF World Champion title. Djokovic opened 2013 by winning his third Australian Open, overcoming Andy Murray 6–7(2), 7–6(1), 6–3, 6–2 despite a back injury. He reached the French Open semifinals and Wimbledon final (losing to Murray), ended with a 74–9 record and seven titles—including four Masters 1000 (Monte Carlo, Shanghai, Paris, Beijing) and the ATP Finals (defeating Nadal 6–3, 6–4)—and retained year-end No. 1 and ITF honors, with 16 consecutive ATP Finals wins across 2008, 2012, and 2013. In 2014, Djokovic captured Wimbledon in five sets over Federer, 6–7(7), 6–4, 7–6(4), 5–7, 6–4—his second title there and first on grass without dropping a set before the final. He won seven titles total, including three Masters 1000 (Indian Wells, Rome, Paris), the ATP Finals, and reached the US Open final (lost to Wawrinka), earning year-end No. 1 for the third consecutive year and another ITF accolade. Djokovic's 2015 marked peak dominance, with an 82–6 record, 11 titles, and three Grand Slams: Australian Open (over Murray 7–6(5), 6–7(4), 6–3, 6–0), Wimbledon (against Federer 7–6(1), 6–7(10), 6–4, 6–3), and US Open (versus Federer 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4). He added six Masters 1000 titles and the ATP Finals for a record 10 "Big Titles," reached finals in all elite events, held serve at 89.8% while breaking 33.7% of opponents' service games, lost the French Open final to Wawrinka, and claimed year-end No. 1, ITF World Champion, and ATP Player of the Year honors. From 2012 to 2015, he secured six Grand Slams, defended his top ranking each year, and earned over $50 million in prize money amid rivalry with Federer, Nadal, and Murray.

Technical Mastery and Record Challenges (2016–2019)

Entering 2016, Djokovic showcased technical mastery, especially in his return of serve, which neutralized opponents and won about one-third of return games outright. His backhand return used a compact backswing and stable base for aggressive play from defense. He claimed seven ATP titles, including the Australian Open on January 31 over Andy Murray (6–1, 7–5, 7–6(3)) and the French Open on June 5, achieving the career Grand Slam and becoming the first man in the Open Era to hold all four majors simultaneously after his 2015 Wimbledon and US Open wins. These successes underscored his all-surface versatility, driven by superior footwork that turned defense into offense. However, he lost the Wimbledon final to Murray on July 10 and the US Open final to Stan Wawrinka on September 11, thwarting a calendar-year sweep. In 2017, an worsening elbow injury hampered Djokovic, leading to his Wimbledon quarterfinal withdrawal against Tomáš Berdych on July 14 and US Open absence announced July 26—his first since 2004. He secured only Doha and Eastbourne titles, with early major exits: Australian Open semifinals to Roger Federer on January 28 and French Open fourth round to Dominic Thiem on June 3. The injury dulled his serve and groundstroke precision, yet his baseline resilience endured, as in saving five match points against Fernando Verdasco in Doha's semifinals. After November 2017 elbow surgery, Djokovic rebounded in 2018 with four titles, including Wimbledon on July 15 over Kevin Anderson (6–2, 6–2, 7–6(3)) and the US Open on September 9 against Juan Martín del Potro (6–3, 7–6(4), 6–3), tying Pete Sampras's 14 majors. His defensive returns and counterpunching excelled in the 5-hour-53-minute Wimbledon semifinal against Rafael Nadal on July 13, while the Cincinnati final win over Federer on August 19 completed all nine ATP Masters ("Golden Masters"). This affirmed his post-injury serve-return balance, restoring world No. 1 status by year-end. Djokovic won five titles in 2019, including the Australian Open on January 27 over Nadal (6–3, 6–2, 6–3), Wimbledon on July 14 against Federer (7–6(5), 1–6, 7–6(4), 4–6, 13–12(3)) in the longest final tiebreak, and the US Open on September 8 over Federer, reaching 16 majors. These triumphs featured clutch backhand winners under pressure and elevated return games that broke serve frequently against big servers, temporarily surpassing Federer's Masters tally and overcoming rivals' challenges. The era highlighted technical refinement amid adversity, paving further record pursuits.

Pandemic-Era Triumphs and Resilience (2020–2022)

In 2020, Djokovic opened strongly with his eighth Australian Open title on February 2, defeating Dominic Thiem 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 for his 17th major. He added three ATP Masters 1000 titles: Dubai (over Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–3, 6–4), Cincinnati (over Milos Raonic 1–6, 6–3, 6–2), and Rome (over Diego Schwartzman 7–5, 6–3). These successes highlighted his adaptability amid COVID-19 disruptions, such as Wimbledon's cancellation and the French Open's postponement to October. Setbacks included the Adria Tour exhibitions in June, where lax protocols led to COVID-19 infections among participants, including Djokovic on June 23; he apologized for the oversight in supporting regional tennis. At the US Open, he defaulted in the fourth round on September 6 after striking a lineswoman with a ball during his match against Pablo Carreño Busta, forfeiting points and prize money. He reached the French Open final but lost to Rafael Nadal 6–0, 6–2, 7–5 on October 11. Djokovic rebounded in 2021, winning three majors despite pandemic restrictions and his unvaccinated status, which he linked to prior infection and opposition to mandates. He secured his ninth Australian Open on February 21, beating Daniil Medvedev 7–5, 6–2, 6–2 for his 18th major. At the French Open, he came back from two sets down to defeat Tsitsipas 6–7(6), 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 on June 13, earning his second Roland Garros title. Wimbledon yielded a straight-sets win over Matteo Berrettini 6–7(4), 6–4, 6–4, 6–3 on July 11, his sixth there and 20th major overall. He also took the Belgrade Open in May and Paris Masters in November, ending as world No. 1 for a record seventh straight year with 11,000 points. His Australian Open entry hinged on a medical exemption from his December 2020 COVID recovery. In 2022, Djokovic's vaccine refusal barred him from mandated events, testing his resilience. Australian authorities canceled his visa on January 5 for the Australian Open, revoking his exemption; despite court victories, deportation followed on January 16, excluding him from his nine-time venue. He skipped the US Open due to U.S. rules for unvaccinated foreigners, missing a calendar Grand Slam chance after three prior major finals. Yet he reached the French Open quarterfinals, losing to Nadal 6–2, 6–2, 7–5 on May 28, and Wimbledon quarterfinals, falling to Nick Kyrgios 4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 on July 5. Titles included a record-equaling sixth Rome Masters (over Holger Rune 6–4, 6–2, ret.), plus Tel Aviv and Astana, with 41 wins despite finishing No. 7. He voiced no regrets, emphasizing health autonomy; reactions split, with some peers praising consistency and others decrying entitlement during public health efforts. His performances affirmed mental and physical strength under pressure.

Surpassing Rivals and Milestone Records (2023–2026)

![Novak Djokovic at the 2024 Paris Olympics][float-right] In 2023, Djokovic won three Grand Slam titles, raising his career total to a men's record 24. He claimed the Australian Open on January 29, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5) in the final for his 10th title there and 22nd overall. At the French Open, he secured his third title on June 11 by beating Casper Ruud 7–6(7–3), 6–3, 7–5, reaching 23 majors and surpassing Rafael Nadal's men's record of 22. He ended the year with his fourth US Open victory on September 10, overcoming Daniil Medvedev 6–3, 7–6(7–5), 6–3 for his 24th major, extending his lead over Nadal (22) and Federer (20). These achievements extended his dominance in key metrics, including a record seventh year-end ATP No. 1 ranking at age 36—the oldest ever—and seven ATP titles, including the Cincinnati and Paris Masters, for an all-time record 40 Masters 1000 crowns. By surpassing rivals in Grand Slam count and weeks at No. 1 (over 400), Djokovic demonstrated sustained excellence against emerging players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In 2024, Djokovic captured the Olympic singles gold on August 4 at the Paris Games, defeating Carlos Alcaraz 7–6(3), 7–6(2) in the final to complete the career Golden Slam (all four majors plus Olympic gold). He reached the French Open final (lost to Alcaraz on June 9) and Wimbledon final (lost to Alcaraz on July 14), results that at age 37 highlighted his resilience against younger rivals. This success placed him among only three men to win all majors and Olympic gold. Through 2025, Djokovic won the Geneva Open in May for his 100th ATP Tour-level singles title, surpassing all active players. In 2025, he reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments but won none. With a 35–11 record as of October, he extended his record weeks at No. 1 to 428 across 13 years. At the 2025 US Open, he set records as the oldest player for certain victories, eclipsing marks by Federer and Chris Evert. In early 2026, he advanced to the Australian Open final by defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on January 30, 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4, overcoming pre-match moneyline odds listing Sinner as a heavy favorite at -1300 to -1450 and Djokovic as the underdog at +740 to +800. Pre-tournament futures odds to win the event had Sinner at around +125 and Djokovic at +550 or longer. Following the victory, Djokovic credited doubters and experts who had suggested he retire for fueling his motivation, stating: "There’s a lot of people that doubt me. ... I want to thank them all, because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong, which I have tonight." He also acknowledged that self-motivation for Grand Slams has become more difficult but emphasized his focus on competing against top players like Sinner and Alcaraz. Facing Carlos Alcaraz in the final, he lost 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, marking his first defeat in an Australian Open final after 10 previous wins. Post-match, Djokovic described feeling "bitter" about the loss, cited physical struggles, and hinted it might be his last Australian Open, fueling retirement speculation. Despite the defeat, he insisted he still believes he can win a 25th major, stating "I always believe I can." He also expressed uncertainty about his future participation, commenting "Who knows what happens tomorrow," hinting that 2026 could be his last Australian Open. At age 38, tennis commentators offered mixed views: Pat Cash noted that recovery is tough but Djokovic remains a threat; Mark Woodforde suggested the 2026 Australian Open performance could determine if he retires soon due to aging and unwillingness to accept mediocrity. Media and experts discussed signs of decline, physical limitations, and the potential end of his dominance era amid the rise of players like Alcaraz and Sinner. This runner-up finish nonetheless underscored his continued competitiveness against next-generation players. These feats reinforced his unparalleled records amid challenges from next-generation players.

Key Rivalries and Competitive Dynamics

Versus Rafael Nadal

The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, from 2006 to 2024, features 60 matches across ATP Tour events, Grand Slams, and Olympics, with Djokovic leading 31–29 after defeating Nadal 6–1, 6–4 in the 2024 Paris Olympics second round on clay. Their encounters often involve extended rallies and physical demands, driven by defensive baseline play and topspin groundstrokes.
SurfaceDjokovic WinsNadal WinsTotal Matches
Hard20727
Clay92029
Grass224
Overall312960
Djokovic excels on hard courts (20–7), while Nadal dominates clay (20–9), including an 8–2 French Open record, aided by slower bounces that enhance his forehand spin and defense. In Grand Slams, Nadal leads 11–7, winning five finals to Djokovic's four. Their first match was on March 23, 2006, at the Miami Open, where Nadal won 6–4, 6–4 in the third round. The rivalry intensified in 2008 with Nadal's Olympic gold-medal semifinal victory. Key early clashes included Nadal's 2009 Australian Open semifinal win in five sets and Djokovic's 2011 Wimbledon final triumph (6–4, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3). From 2011, Djokovic built a 20–9 edge, leveraging improved returns and endurance. Standout matches include the 2012 Australian Open final, the longest Grand Slam final at 5 hours 53 minutes, where Djokovic saved two match points to win 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5; Nadal's 2013 Monte Carlo Masters final (6–2, 6–7(1), 6–3); and his 2021 French Open semifinal comeback (3–6, 6–3, 7–6(4), 6–2). These highlighted stylistic contrasts—Djokovic's backhand precision against Nadal's forehand power—and mutual respect, with Djokovic noting Nadal's intensity sharpened his game. No matches followed 2024, aligning with Nadal's retirement.

Versus Roger Federer

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played 50 ATP Tour matches from 2006 to 2019, with Djokovic leading 27–23 overall. Their rivalry featured matches on all surfaces, including 17 Grand Slams where Djokovic held an 11–6 edge—the most in Open Era history. Djokovic also led 13–6 in finals, defeating Federer for titles at Wimbledon (2011, 2019), the Australian Open (2011), and the ATP Finals (2012, 2013, 2015). The rivalry started in 2006 at the Monte Carlo Masters, where world No. 1 Federer beat 18-year-old Djokovic 6–3, 6–4 in the second round. Federer won the first four meetings through 2008, using his serve and net play against Djokovic's baseline style. Djokovic's first win came in November 2008 at the Tennis Masters Cup group stage (7–6(8–6), 6–3), after Federer had secured semifinal qualification. The balance shifted in 2010–2011 as Djokovic improved his physicality and returns, winning key matches like the 2010 ATP Finals final (6–3, 3–6, 6–1) and 2011 Australian Open semifinals (6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3, 6–2). These victories secured Djokovic's first two majors and No. 1 ranking, prompting Federer to adapt against Djokovic's defense. Federer countered with wins in 2014–2015, such as the Shanghai Masters final (6–4, 6–4) and Dubai semifinals (6–3, 6–3), targeting Djokovic's serve on fast hard courts. From 2016, Djokovic won eight of nine remaining matches, including straight-sets at the Shanghai Masters and ATP Finals. The peak was the 2019 Wimbledon final on July 14, where Djokovic won 7–6(5), 1–6, 7–6(4), 4–6, 13–12(3) in 4 hours and 57 minutes, saving two match points for his fifth Wimbledon title. Djokovic took 73 of 147 sets, despite Federer's narrow 74–73 games advantage in some tallies.
SurfaceDjokovic WinsFederer Wins
Hard1712
Clay35
Grass43
Indoor Hard33
Djokovic's returns often neutralized Federer's first serve (over 60% points won), while his baseline consistency induced forehand errors, especially after Federer's post-2016 knee issues reduced mobility. Federer succeeded early with pace variation and net approaches, but Djokovic adapted over time. Spanning Federer's prime and Djokovic's rise despite a six-year age gap, their matches raised tennis levels, with Djokovic surpassing Federer's major tally by 2023.

Versus Andy Murray

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray contested 36 ATP Tour matches, with Djokovic securing a 25–11 head-to-head lead overall. This dominance extended across surfaces, including 19–8 on hard courts, 4–2 on clay, and 2–1 on grass. They met in 19 finals, where Djokovic prevailed in 14, highlighting his edge in high-stakes encounters. In Grand Slam competition, Djokovic led 8–2 across 10 meetings, including a 5–1 record in finals.
SurfaceDjokovic WinsMurray Wins
Hard Courts198
Clay42
Grass21
Total2511
Murray claimed the initial three victories from 2006 to 2008, including the 2008 Cincinnati Masters final (7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5)), but Djokovic reversed the dynamic thereafter, winning 22 of their subsequent 25 clashes starting in 2009. This shift coincided with Djokovic's ascent to consistent elite performance, marked by superior return game depth and defensive-to-offensive transitions that neutralized Murray's counterpunching style. Their Grand Slam rivalry featured prolonged battles, often exceeding four hours. Djokovic defeated Murray in the 2011 Australian Open final (6–4, 6–2, 6–3), launching his dominant phase with a straight-sets victory after Murray had reached his first major final. In the 2012 Australian Open semifinals, Djokovic rallied from two sets to one down to win 6–3, 3–6, 6–7(4), 6–1, 7–5, denying Murray a title shot. The 2013 Wimbledon final saw Djokovic triumph 6–4, 7–5, 6–4, capitalizing on Murray's serving inconsistencies in the decider. Further Australian Open finals underscored Djokovic's supremacy: 2013 (6–7(2), 7–6(3), 6–3, 6–2), 2015 (7–6(5), 6–7(4), 6–3, 6–0), and 2016 (6–1, 7–5, 7–6(3)), where he converted key break points to secure three-peat dominance at Melbourne Park. At the 2012 US Open final, Djokovic overcame a two-sets-to-one deficit in a 7–6(10), 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2 marathon, thwarting Murray's home Slam bid. Djokovic also prevailed in the 2015 Roland Garros semifinals (6–3, 6–3, 5–7, 5–7, 6–1) after saving match points, and the 2016 final (3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4), completing his career Grand Slam. These outcomes reflected Djokovic's superior endurance and tactical adjustments in five-set scenarios, contributing to his 24 major titles compared to Murray's three.

Versus Other Top Contenders

Djokovic holds winning head-to-head records against most players in the current ATP top 10 as of October 2025, except against younger players like Jannik Sinner, amid the tour's generational shift. Djokovic leads Carlos Alcaraz 5–3, with wins in the 2023 Cincinnati Masters final (1–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–4) and straight-sets victories in 2025 matches, despite Alcaraz's 2023 Wimbledon final triumph (1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4). He has won three of four hard-court encounters. Against Jannik Sinner, the record is 5–6, including Sinner's 2024 Australian Open semi-final (walkover due to Djokovic's injury) and multiple 2025 hard-court wins, the first five straight defeats for Djokovic in over a decade. Djokovic secured a key underdog triumph in the 2026 Australian Open semifinal (3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4), overcoming pre-match odds listing Sinner as a heavy favorite (-1300 to -1450) and Djokovic as the underdog (+740 to +800). He won earlier matches like the 2023 ATP Finals group stage (6–2, 2–6, 7–6(7–4)). Djokovic leads Daniil Medvedev 10–5, including the 2021 US Open final (6–4, 6–4, 6–4) and 2023 US Open final (6–3, 7–6(7–5), 6–3); he has won five of the last six meetings. The record versus Alexander Zverev is 9–5, with wins like the 2025 French Open quarter-final (4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4) and multiple Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic leads Stefanos Tsitsipas 12–2, including straight-sets wins in the 2021 French Open final (6–7(8–10), 6–3, 6–3, 6–2) and 2024 Olympics quarter-final (6–4, 7–6(7–3)).
OpponentHead-to-Head (Djokovic–Opponent)Key Surfaces Dominated
Carlos Alcaraz5–3Hard (3–1)
Jannik Sinner5–6Clay (2–1)
Daniil Medvedev10–5Hard (8–3)
Alexander Zverev9–5All (balanced)
Stefanos Tsitsipas12–2Clay (5–0)
These records contribute to Djokovic's 98–24 career mark against top-5 opponents.

Technical Profile and On-Court Attributes

Playing Style and Tactical Approach

Novak Djokovic, a right-handed player with a two-handed backhand, uses an all-court baseline style with elite defense and opportunistic aggression, extending rallies to exploit errors or fatigue. He counter-punches by absorbing pace with flexibility from split-step training and core strength, then redirects balls cross-court or down the line using angles and depth to disrupt opponents. This yields a career return points won percentage of about 44%, the highest among active players, and a 31.5% break serve rate, per ATP data. His two-handed backhand, with topspin grip, supports defensive lobs and flat drives, often down-the-line to wrong-foot baseliners, as in his 2011 Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal. The forehand, evolved from an extreme semi-Western grip, now delivers heavy spin and inside-out redirection to push opponents wide. Tactically, he anticipates via pattern recognition, takes balls on the rise to convert defense to offense, and maintains optimal positioning without high risk. Djokovic varies serve placement with body serves and ad-side kick serves, emphasizing consistency (115-120 mph first serves) over power after biomechanical improvements. At net, he selectively approaches with forehand drives to the backhand, poaches using his 6'2" frame, and wins 75-80% of such points. His variability in pace, height, and spin provokes errors, with a 57% baseline point win rate in key matches, turning rallies into traps for aggressors. He adapts to surfaces with enhanced clay slides (deeper knee bends) and grass footwork, plus high split-step coverage. Weaknesses like overhead errors under pressure or spin vulnerability are addressed via rituals and scouting, reflecting an efficiency-focused approach over flair.

Physical Conditioning and Mental Fortitude

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) and weighing 170 pounds (77 kg), Djokovic possesses a lean, athletic build with exceptional flexibility, agility, and endurance, which contribute to his defensive baseline style of play. He maintains elite physical condition through a regimen emphasizing flexibility, strength, and endurance, developed early amid tennis's demands. Training starts with stretching to reduce stiffness, followed by gym sessions for weight training, resistance, and conditioning to build power. He incorporates yoga and conscious breathing for flexibility, enabling acrobatic reaches and splits, sustained into his late 30s via coaches like Marco Panichi. This supports grueling matches, such as the 5-hour-53-minute 2012 Australian Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal. Around 2010, Djokovic identified gluten intolerance using bioresonance testing, an alternative diagnostic method, prompting a strict gluten-free diet from 2011. He attributed reduced fatigue and bloating to it, coinciding with three Grand Slam titles and a 64-2 record that year, enhancing recovery and stamina. Electrolyte-focused hydration aids extended rallies over four shots per point. Despite injuries like 2018 elbow surgery, targeted rehab and preventive work minimized absences, enabling finishes like the 2023 Australian Open runner-up at age 35. In late 2025, he hired biomechanics expert Dr. Mark Kovacs for conditioning, injury prevention, and recovery, and debuted the Regenesis 8-minute recovery pod to accelerate post-injury resets. Djokovic's mental fortitude arises from practices like mindfulness meditation and conscious breathing to manage pressure, rather than innate ability. He uses visualization for scenarios, positive self-talk against doubt, and accepts thoughts without suppression—techniques honed after early chokes for match adaptability. This aided comebacks like the 2021 French Open win from two sets down against Lorenzo Musetti. Combined with physical endurance, it contributes to his 24 Grand Slam titles through decisive-set composure.

Equipment and Coaching Evolutions

Djokovic switched from Wilson racquets, used early in his career, to Head in 2010, adopting a customized PT346.1 pro stock frame with a 95 square inch head, 20 millimeter beam, and approximately 353 grams strung weight. Painted to resemble Head's Speed Pro models, it prioritizes control and spin for his baseline play and has powered most major titles. After 2018 elbow surgery, he reduced string tension and settled on Babolat VS Touch natural gut mains at 59 pounds with Luxilon ALU Power Rough polyester crosses, enhancing feel and durability while preserving performance. He shifted footwear from Adidas (sponsor since 2005) to Asics in 2018 for greater lightness and responsiveness, co-designing models like the Court FF3 Novak to match his movement and support injury prevention into his late 30s. Apparel sponsors changed from Sergio Tacchini (2006–2008) to Uniqlo (2012–2016) and Lacoste (since 2017), but these had little effect on core equipment. Coaching started with family guidance from parents Srdjan and Dijana, plus Jelena Gencic for technique and Nikola Pilic for juniors, before professional ties began with Marian Vajda in 2006. Vajda provided long-term stability (2006–2017 and 2018–2022), contributing to 12 Grand Slams through tactical depth. Key additions included Boris Becker (2013–2016) for aggressive play and six majors; short-term Amelie Mauresmo (2015); Andre Agassi (2017–2018) for post-injury mindset; and Goran Ivanisevic (2020–2023) for serve improvements and five Slams, parting in 2024 due to Djokovic's reduced schedule. A brief 2025 consultation with Andy Murray ended mutually to emphasize autonomy. By May 2025, childhood friend Dusan Vemic became primary coach alongside Boris Bosnjakovic, drawing on doubles experience for targeted prep amid age-related adjustments. This approach combines enduring partnerships with specialized roles to sustain competitiveness.
PeriodKey Coach(es)Notable Achievements/Impact
2006–2017 (primary)Marian Vajda12 Grand Slams; foundational consistency
2013–2016Boris Becker (addition)6 Grand Slams; tactical aggression
2020–2023Goran Ivanisevic5 Grand Slams; serve refinement
2025–presentDusan Vemic, Boris BosnjakovicInjury management, selective focus

Extracurricular Engagements and Personal Philosophy

Philanthropic Efforts and Novak Djokovic Foundation

The Novak Djokovic Foundation, established in 2007 by Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena, supports early childhood education in Serbia to provide quality preschool access for disadvantaged children. It develops preschools, trains educators, aids parents, and addresses child needs via evidence-based programs, with full transparency: 100% of donations reach beneficiaries, as founders cover operations. Key projects involve building or renovating preschools with materials, partnering with Serbia's Ministry of Education and the World Bank to enroll over 3,000 children in inclusive systems, and training teachers in advanced methods. Further efforts include parent programs like "Support, Not Perfection" and "The Path of a Champion" for family involvement in development, plus research on social-emotional growth and nutrition. It aids emergencies, such as flood relief and 2020 COVID-19 support via 17 ventilators, 54 monitors, and 100,000 health packages for Serbian first graders. Complementary youth programs feature Original magazine for growth and camps like the Friendship Games for underprivileged children's recreation and education. By 2023, the foundation invested €15 million in Serbia, building 58 preschools and aiding over 54,800 children. Djokovic's personal gifts include €1 million in 2020 ventilators for Serbia's COVID-19 fight and €200,000 from his 2024 Paris Olympics prize to charities. These actions reflect targeted commitments to education, equity, and crises over broad advocacy.

Commercial Ventures and Endorsements

Djokovic has secured long-term endorsement deals with several prominent brands, generating an estimated $25–$34 million annually as of 2025. His partnership with Head for tennis rackets, dating to 2001, is reportedly worth $7.5 million per year. Lacoste has sponsored his apparel since 2017 at a similar $7.5 million annual value. Other endorsements include Asics for footwear, Hublot for watches, and Waterdrop for hydration. In June 2025, he became global ambassador for Aman Resorts, focusing on wellness retreats aligned with his health interests. He has endorsed at least 21 brands overall, including past deals with Adidas and ANZ, but now emphasizes performance and lifestyle partners. Djokovic has also invested in wellness and sports enterprises. In 2023, he acquired a stake in Waterdrop, supporting sustainable hydration. He holds investments in Joe & the Juice, a Danish juice chain. In August 2025, he took a stake in Incrediwear, specializing in athlete recovery wear. That month, he joined investors in Ligue 2 club Le Mans FC via a Brazilian firm, alongside figures like Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. These ventures target health, fitness, and longevity, supplementing his prize money earnings exceeding $186 million.

Health Regimen, Diet, and Scientific Skepticism

Djokovic adopted a gluten-free diet after collapsing from dehydration and fatigue during his 2010 U.S. Open quarterfinal match against Stan Wawrinka. In his 2013 book Serve to Win, he detailed a 14-day gluten-free plan that eliminates wheat-derived proteins and sugars, attributing it to resolving chronic injuries, reducing inflammation, and improving energy levels that contributed to his world No. 1 ranking. His meals typically feature vegetables, beans, fruits, nuts, seeds, lentils, chickpeas, fish, and white meat, while excluding dairy and gluten-containing grains; he prefers plant-based options and co-produced the 2019 documentary The Game Changers, which promotes veganism for athletes. His regimen includes daily yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi to improve flexibility, breathing, and mental resilience, incorporated after 2010 to support endurance in long matches. Physical training emphasizes calisthenics, bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, and rows, dynamic stretches, and light cardio, often twice daily, supplemented by outdoor walking or hiking for cardiovascular health. Mornings begin with hydration, gratitude journaling, and fruit-based smoothies with spirulina or seaweed, avoiding coffee to aid recovery and focus. Djokovic expresses skepticism toward institutional medical mandates, opposing coerced vaccinations while supporting childhood immunizations and natural immunity from his COVID-19 infections in April 2020 and June 2021. He has advocated holistic approaches, including a 2011 claim that group meditation and positive energy can alter water's molecular structure to remove toxins, a concept unsupported by empirical evidence in physics or chemistry. This reflects his emphasis on personal autonomy in health choices over consensus protocols.

Public Controversies and Ideological Positions

Stance Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Novak Djokovic first publicly expressed opposition to COVID-19 vaccination in an April 2020 Instagram Live session, stating he was "opposed to the vaccination" and would not take it if mandatory. This preceded the Adria Tour (June-July 2020) and was separate from it, as vaccines were not yet available or authorized; the Tour's controversy stemmed from lax COVID-19 protocols rather than vaccine-related statements. He noted that while he had received childhood vaccines, he prioritized individual decision-making on bodily autonomy. In June 2020, Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19 after organizing the Adria Tour exhibition series in Serbia and Croatia, which faced criticism for continuing amid the pandemic despite infections among participants, including himself; he apologized for the misjudgment but stated the events aimed to support tennis during lockdowns. Djokovic's opposition grew in late 2021 amid expanding vaccine requirements in sports. In October 2021, he declined to reveal his vaccination status to Serbian media, citing privacy and resistance to mandates tying participation to medical decisions. On December 14, 2021, he tested positive again but attended a public event in Belgrade on December 17 while awaiting PCR results, leading to accusations of violating Serbian isolation rules; his team claimed he had a negative rapid test and followed protocols. For the 2022 Australian Open, Djokovic arrived on January 5 with a medical exemption from Tennis Australia based on recent COVID recovery, but Australian border officials canceled his visa on January 6 for not meeting entry rules under the no-vaccination policy, detaining him in an immigration hotel. After an initial court victory on January 10, the government revoked the visa again on January 14 due to public health concerns and issues with his exemption, deporting him on January 16. The deportation resulted in a three-year Australian entry ban, later reduced, preventing Djokovic from competing in the 2022 Australian Open. He also skipped the 2022 US Open and Indian Wells Masters due to U.S. vaccination mandates for unvaccinated foreign travelers. In February 2022, Djokovic told the BBC he would forgo Grand Slams to avoid mandates, viewing it as the cost of upholding bodily autonomy over titles. Critics argued his stance endangered public health. By 2023, with mandates relaxed, Djokovic returned to Australia after a ban waiver in November 2022 and won the 2023 Australian Open unvaccinated. During his 2024 Australian Open third-round match against Tomás Martín Etcheverry, a heckler yelled "Get vaccinated" on match point, and Djokovic responded by winning the point with an ace. In January 2025, he described ongoing "trauma" from the Melbourne detention and deportation, including anxiety upon arriving in Australia.

Political Expressions and National Pride

Novak Djokovic has expressed strong national pride in his Serbian heritage, serving as a symbol of resilience amid challenges like the Yugoslav Wars and economic difficulties. After Serbia's 2010 Davis Cup win, he gave an emotional speech in Belgrade on December 5, 2010, dedicating the victory to his nation and stressing unity: "This is for all of you, for Serbia." He has worn the Serbian flag in celebrations and supported the national football team, reinforcing his status as a cultural icon for Serbs worldwide. Djokovic's views often touch on Serbian claims to Kosovo, where his father was born. On May 29, 2023, following a French Open match, he wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a camera lens during ethnic clashes. He defended it as personal belief, stating on May 30, 2023: "As the son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to all of Serbia," while opposing violence. This echoed Serbia's rejection of Kosovo's 2008 independence but drew rebukes from Kosovo's Olympic Committee as "Serbian nationalists' propaganda" and from French officials against politicizing sports. Djokovic said on May 31, 2023, he would repeat it if tensions rose, focusing on ethnic Serb concerns. Djokovic identifies as a patriot without extremism. His father stated in 2022: "Novak is a nationalist, of course, and so am I... We love our people and our country," portraying it as loyal affection. Yet by mid-2025, some pro-government Serbian media called him a "traitor" for backing student protests against corruption, shifting from hero to critic in polarized views. Supporters saw it as defending free speech and democracy. These events highlight Djokovic's focus on Serbian identity amid foreign and domestic tensions.

Media and Institutional Clashes

Djokovic has criticized media outlets for biased or sensationalized coverage of his national pride and on-court demeanor. In January 2023, at the Australian Open, he accused the press of "publicly lynching" him over scrutiny of his vaccine exemption and perceived favoritism toward rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. At the 2025 Australian Open, Djokovic boycotted on-court interviews with Channel 9 after commentator Tony Jones called him "overrated," a "has-been," and mocked Serbian fans. He described the remarks as "insulting and offensive," prompting an apology from Jones and Channel 9, which Djokovic accepted while stressing respect for his supporters. Similar frustration led him to walk out of a 2024 Wimbledon interview with the BBC after 98 seconds, citing irrelevant questions. Djokovic's expressions of Serbian nationalism have drawn media criticism. After his 2023 French Open first-round win, he wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a camera lens amid Kosovo-Serbia tensions, leading to condemnation and remarks from French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra that it was "not appropriate." He defended the message as a personal view on sovereignty tied to his heritage and declined to retract it. Djokovic co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2020 to advocate for player rights. In March 2025, the PTPA sued the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA in U.S. federal court, alleging monopolistic control, excessive scheduling, and unfair revenue sharing. The lawsuit, with plaintiffs including Nick Kyrgios but not Djokovic, seeks compensation and reforms; Djokovic has called for player unity against governing bodies' dominance. Crowd hostility, often highlighted in media, has marked events like the French Open. In 2023, Djokovic advanced amid jeers and said such behavior tests tolerance; in 2024, he described Roland Garros crowds as passionate but challenging. These incidents have reinforced his "villain" image in coverage.

Enduring Legacy and Broader Influence

Statistical Supremacy and All-Time Rankings

![Novak Djokovic's ATP ranking history as of August 16, 2023][center] Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most men's singles Grand Slam titles, with 24 victories as of October 2025. He has won each major at least twice, completing the Career Grand Slam three times and the non-calendar year Grand Slam in 2015–2016. Djokovic also holds a unique Career Super Slam, including all Grand Slams, ATP Finals, Masters 1000 events, and Olympic gold, achieved at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Djokovic has spent over 400 weeks at world No. 1, a record exceeding Roger Federer's 310 weeks and Rafael Nadal's 209. He has ended the year at No. 1 a record eight times, from 2011 to 2023. With 100 ATP singles titles, he leads in Masters 1000 wins (40, the only player to take each event at least twice) and ATP Finals triumphs (7). He tops "Big Titles" (Grand Slams, ATP Finals, Masters 1000, Olympic gold) with 72, ahead of Federer (54) and Nadal (58).
CategoryDjokovicFedererNadal
Grand Slams242022
Weeks at No. 1>400310209
Year-End No. 1 Finishes855
Masters 1000402836
ATP Finals760
Big Titles725458
Djokovic leads head-to-head against Federer (27–23) and Nadal (30–29 overall, 20–8 in non-clay finals), affirming his edge over the era's top rivals. These achievements rank him first in numerous all-time categories, highlighting his dominance in professional tennis.

Transformations in Tennis Culture and Training

Djokovic integrated yoga and flexibility exercises into his training around 2006, working with trainer Mariani Vajda and fitness coach Gebhard Phil-Gritsch. This improved his court coverage and injury resistance, emphasizing mobility over power and setting a standard for professional tennis conditioning. Unlike prior eras focused on serve dominance, his retrieval ability has led coaches to include dynamic stretching and proprioceptive drills in junior programs for all-surface versatility. In 2010, Djokovic adopted a gluten-free diet after testing revealed wheat-related energy issues. This change aligned with his 2011 performance peak, including three Grand Slam titles and a 41-match win streak, prompting peers and academies to pursue personalized nutrition via biomedical analysis over standard high-carb diets. Outcomes included reduced inflammation and endurance in five-set matches into his late 30s, advancing evidence-based dietary approaches with whole foods like honey and avocados. Djokovic has promoted mindfulness and resilience training since the early 2010s through psychologist collaborations, integrating psychological conditioning into daily tennis routines via visualization and breath control to handle high-stakes pressure. His Grand Slam finals comeback rate exceeds 70%, contributing to a shift where mental fortitude, measured by focus metrics, complements innate talent in player development. His year-round high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength routines, adapted for longevity at age 38, feature off-court sprints and resistance to sustain explosive movement without excessive court time. This has encouraged periodized fitness in the ATP to counter physical decline, alongside data-driven methods like biomechanics and cryotherapy recovery, as seen in his 24 Grand Slams by 2024.

Critiques of Narrative Biases in Coverage

Critics contend that media coverage often favors Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as tennis icons, downplaying Novak Djokovic's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles as of 2023, despite his head-to-head leads of 27–23 over Federer and 30–29 over Nadal. Observers highlight a persistent emphasis on Federer's elegance and Nadal's grit, contrasting these with Djokovic's intensity, even as his titles exceed theirs (Federer with 20, Nadal with 22). This extends to visual promotions, such as Grand Slam posters according Djokovic less prominence. Some attribute such patterns to cultural preferences in Western-dominated tennis media for players from nations like Switzerland and Spain, underrepresenting Djokovic's Serbian origins and scrutinizing his losses or off-court actions more than on-court results. Match commentary frequently praises Federer or Nadal's resilience in defeats while critiquing Djokovic's errors harshly, prioritizing narrative over metrics. A former reporter described this as an entrenched favoritism that grew as Djokovic overtook the pair in majors. Djokovic's opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates received coverage framing his position as aligned with fringe views rather than bodily autonomy, emphasizing his 2022 Australian deportation while understating later tournament successes. This aligns with media tendencies favoring public health consensus, prompting Djokovic to boycott Australian broadcaster Channel 9 in 2025 for "mean-spirited" reporting. His expressions of Serbian nationalism, including on Kosovo, have drawn Western press criticism as politicized, contrasting with treatment of other players' regional pride amid Balkan historical contexts. Data from social media and trackers indicate disproportionate negative sentiment toward Djokovic in English-language coverage, persisting after achievements like his 2024 Olympic gold. Proponents of reform advocate metrics-driven assessments, noting his 428 weeks at world No. 1, to counter stylistic or geopolitical influences.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.