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Novak Djokovic came good when it mattered most, saving two championship points on the Roger Federer serve to lift his 5th Wimbledon title in an epic final on Sunday.
In the process, the Serbian reinforced his reputation as one of the most ruthless players in fifth sets. With his 30th win in 40 matches that have gone the distance, Djokovic has drawn level with Federer (30-22) and Marin Cilic (30-17) for most fifth-set wins among active players.
But Djokovic's fifth-set win % of 75 is superior to both Federer's 57.7% and Cilic's 63.8% and is only eclipsed by two other active players: Tommy Robredo (17-5, 77.8%) and Kei Nishikori (23-7; 76.7%).
Djokovic's tally of 871 wins in the Open Era is the seventh highest in the all-time list and is bettered by only Federer (1222) and Rafael Nadal (956) among active players. Only Federer (102 titles, 20 Grand Slams) and Nadal (82 titles, 18 Grand Slams) have won more titles and Grand Slams than the Serbian (75 titles, 16 Grand Slams).
Djokovic deserves immense credit for emerging on the circuit at a time when Federer and Nadal were at their best, sweeping big titles like the Grand Slams and Masters 1000s with consummate ease.
With his first Wimbledon title in 2011 (beat Nadal in the final), the Serbian ended Federer and Nadal's seven-year duopoly at the top of the world rankings.
The Serb also began his 260th week (15 July 2019) at the top of the world rankings, which is the fifth-best of all-time. Only Federer (310 weeks), Pete Sampras (286 weeks), Ivan Lendl (270 weeks) and John McEnroe (268 weeks) have had longer reigns at the top.
Djokovic's victory over Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final was the fifth time he has emerged victorious in a Grand Slam after saving match points. It is also the third time he has done so against Federer (2010 US Open semis, 2011 US Open semis, 2019 Wimbledon final).
One of only three men to notch up 250 Grand Slam match wins (Federer-353, Nadal-265), Djokovic, with a tally of 277 wins, has had several milestone victories along the way.
Here is a list of the Serbian's ten most memorable victories in a Grand Slam.
#10 2008 Australian Open semifinals: Djokovic beats Federer 7-5 6-3 7-6(5)
The Serbian announced himself on the Grand Slam stage at the 2007 US Open when he faced 11-time Major champion Federer in the final. Nerves caught up with the young Serbian, who squandered a 6-5 40-0 lead on serve to lose the first set, and eventually the match, in straight sets.
Four months later, though, there was to be no repeat of the same. Djokovic beat defending champion Federer in straight sets in the 2008 Australian Open semifinals. The victory was significant as it marked his first win in five attempts against either Federer or Nadal in a Grand Slam.
In the final, Djokovic conquered Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France to win his first Grand Slam title.
#9 2011 Wimbledon semifinals: Djokovic beats Tsonga 7-6(4) 6-2 6-7(9) 6-3
In a banner year, Novak Djokovic produced one of the best starts to a season, notching up 41 wins on the trot, a 2nd Australian Open title, four Masters 1000 victories over Rafael Nadal (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome) and a first win over the Spaniard on clay in Madrid.
The year was to get even better for the Serb as he beat Tsonga in a tight four-set semifinal, featuring two tiebreaks, to reach his first Wimbledon final.
Victory confirmed Djokovic as the 25th player in the Open Era to ascend to the summit of the world rankings. The Serbian would go on to celebrate the momentous achievement by beating Nadal for the fifth straight time in a tournament final, capturing his first Wimbledon title.
#8 2015 French Open Quarterfinals: Djokovic beats Nadal 7-5 6-3 6-1
In one of his most dominant performances on clay, Novak Djokovic conquered Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-3 6-1 in the 2015 Roland Garros quarterfinals to end the nine-time champion's five-year reign in Paris.
It marked only the second time Nadal lost a match at Roland Garros following a fourth-round reversal to eventual finalist Robin Soderling in 2009. It remains the only straight-set defeat for Nadal, who has since gone on to win 21 more matches on the red dirt, swelling his glittering 15-year Roland Garros reign to 93 wins, 2 defeats, and a staggering 12 titles.
Two rounds later though, seven-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic would be thwarted for a third time in his bid to complete a rare 'career Grand Slam', as Wawrinka emerged victorious in a four-set final.
#7 2012 French Open semifinals: Djokovic beats Federer 6-4 7-5 6-3
A year after Roger Federer ended Novak Djokovic's stunning 41-0 start to the year in the Roland Garros semifinals, the duo faced each other again in the last four stage of the 2012 French Open.
The Serbian fought back from a break down in the first two sets, becoming only the third player (Arnaud Clement - 2000, 2001 Aus Open 3R; Alex Corretja - 2000 French Open 4R, 2001 French Open Quarterfinals) to inflict two 'straight-set defeats' on Federer in a Grand Slam.
In the process, Djokovic reached his first Roland Garros final, and with it came his first opportunity to win the coveted 'career Grand Slam'.
Six-time champion Nadal had other ideas, though, as he beat the Serbian in a final played over two days, to win his seventh French Open title.
#6 2016 Australian Open semifinals: Djokovic beats Federer 6-1 6-3 3-6 6-3.
In a virtuoso display of 'lights-out' hard court tennis, Novak Djokovic conceded just four games as he blitzed into a two-set lead in less than an hour against four-time champion Roger Federer on Rod Laver Arena.
Federer, who reached the semifinals having conceded just a set in five matches, looked dazed by the Serbian's onslaught, but improved considerably in the third set. The Swiss momentarily stalled Djokovic's momentum by riding a single break of serve to force a fourth set.
But the Serbian was soon back to his marauding best as he won the fourth set 6-3 to romp into a sixth Australian Open title match.
Two days later, Djokovic beat Murray for the fourth time in an Australian Open final to celebrate a sixth Australian Open title and an 11th Grand Slam crown.
#5 2010 US Open semifinals: Djokovic beats Federer 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic squared off against each other for the fourth straight year, at the 2010 US Open. On the three previous occasions they had met in New York, Federer had beaten the younger Serbian, in the 2007 final and the 2008 and 2009 semifinals.
In a hard-fought battle, after Federer had eked out a two sets to one lead, the Swiss' US Open domination over Djokovic looked set to continue.
It was then that the Serb brought his mental resilience to the fore and took the fourth set 6-2 to force a decider. Serving second in the fifth, Djokovic was on the brink as he stared down two match points on serve at 4-5 15-40.
Federer was to be denied though, as three forehand winners flowed from the Djokovic racquet. The Serbian went on to win the last three games of the deciding set to reach a second US Open final, where he was beaten by Nadal.
#4 2011 US Open semifinals: Djokovic beats Federer 6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5
Surely it couldn't happen again, or could it? In a second straight Federer-Djokovic US Open semifinal, the Serb was again down match points, this time on his opponent's serve.
Federer took a two-set lead before Djokovic fought back to force a fifth. It looked like the decisive break of the match had gone to the Swiss when he broke Djokovic to love for a 5-3 lead. Serving for the match, Federer charged to a 40-15 lead to bring up two match points on serve.
A rasping forehand winner from Djokovic followed by a lucky net cord culminated in a Federer double fault as the set was hauled back on serve. Two match points for Federer had come and gone in a flash.
The Swiss was dazed by the sudden change in fortunes as Djokovic rode his momentum to win the final four games of the set and reach a third US Open final, thereby denying the prospect of a Federer-Nadal US Open title showdown for the second straight year.
#3 2019 Australian Open Final: Djokovic beats Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3.
Dishing out one of his most dominant performances in a Grand Slam final, Novak Djokovic conceded only eight games against his great rival Rafael Nadal, as the Serbian roared to a record 7th Australian Open and 15th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic approached the game brilliantly, relentlessly attacking the Nadal forehand and the tactic paid off.
The Spaniard's forehand cracked under the unexpected onslaught from Djokovic and the Serb brought a merciful end to the Nadal's misery in just 2 hours and 4 minutes.
It was a damp squib of a final after the epic 5 hr 53 min 2012 Australian Open title clash between the duo, as Nadal endured a fourth defeat in his fifth title match at the year's first Grand Slam.
#9 2012 Australian Open Final: Djokovic beats Nadal 5–7 6–4 6–2 6–7(5) 7–5.
For the seventh straight time in a tournament final, Rafael Nadal faced Novak Djokovic and came up short.
But that is too mundane a way to describe the epic battle royale which unfolded on Rod Laver Arena.
Following an exhausting 4 hour, 50-minute semifinal win over Andy Murray, Djokovic was pushed to the limit by a relentless Nadal in the final.
In a match that consisted of lung-bursting rallies and jaw-dropping winners from both players, two-time champion Djokovic eked out a crucial two sets to one lead.
Leading 4 games to 3 in the fourth, Djokovic had three consecutive break points on the Nadal serve. Three virtual championship points.
Pushed to the brink, the Spaniard responded churning out multiple forehand winners to get back on serve. At five points all in the ensuing tiebreak, Nadal made his move and won consecutive points to force a decider.
A pulsating final that extended past midnight had ascended to dizzying heights. Djokovic was the first to blink in the decider as Nadal rode on the momentum of his fourth set win to break for 4-2.
A second Australian Open title was on the horizon for Nadal but the indefatigable Serb wasn't done yet. The set was back on serve as Rafa missed a regulation backhand down the line.
Five games later, Djokovic sealed a third consecutive Grand Slam title, in the process emulating Laver, Federer, and Nadal as the only players to do so in the Open Era.
#1 2019 Wimbledon Final: Djokovic beats Federer 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12(3).
In a pulsating 4 hour, 57-minute battle royale on Centre Court and the longest-ever Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic prevailed over Roger Federer in a historic deciding-set tiebreak. In the process, the Serb became the first Wimbledon champion in 71 years to save multiple championship points.
Federer, many felt, was the better player on the day, as the Swiss led the Serb in most categories (first serve %, second serve%, first-serve points won, aces, winners, total points, net points, breaks and games won) but the one stat which went Djokovic's way (11 errors from Federer to none from Djokovic in the three tiebreaks) proved significant.
The Serb churned out three tiebreak sets to end up winning a 5th Wimbledon and a 16th Grand Slam title.
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