5 matches when Novak Djokovic came back from the brink of defeat

↵Novak Djokovic has turned the tables on his opponents in crucial situationsNovak Djokovic is known to be a fighter and there was no better stage to prove it against the best opponents on the grandest of stages. The Serb was not perturbed by the fact that he was only a point or two from losing the match. Instead, he went for his shots, believed in his ability and managed to turn the match on its head.Here are five occasions when the World No.1 turned the tide in his favor.

#1 Halle, 2009 Quarter-Finals

Djokovic saved five match points against Florent Serra at the Gary Weber Open, Halle in 2009. He had only one Grand Slam under his belt at the time and was just starting to make a name for himself.

Serra was in pole position to win the match as he was leading 5-2 in the second set after winning the first 7-5. He had five chances to shut out the match, but Djokovic provided immense resilience to save all of them.

He ended up winning the second set by winning five straight games and went on to win the third set with ease.

Result :

Novak Djokovic def. Florent Serra 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.

#2 U.S Open 2010 - Semifinals

Djokovic was up against Roger Federer in the U.S Open Semifinals. Federer was the favourite after reaching the finals on six previous occasions.

The match was a thrilling one and went on to five sets. Federer had two match points with Djokovic serving at 15-40, but the Serb kept his nerve and saved them. He went on to break Federer’s serve in the next game to win the match

Result :

Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.

#3 U.S Open 2011 - Semifinals

Djokovic was once again up against Federer in the semifinals of the 2011 U.S Open. It was to be a similar story, with the ghosts of 2010 coming back to haunt Federer as he was not able to convert two match points, and this time, he was serving!

Federer was leading 5-4 in the fifth set and was serving at 40-15. Everyone expected Federer to easily win the match, but Djokovic had other plans as he saved the match points and broke Federer’s serve as well. He broke Federer’s next service game to take the match.

He went on to win the title as well.

Result :

Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer 6-7 (7-9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

#4 French Open 2012 - Quarter-Finals

This was probably one of the toughest victories for Djokovic. He was up against crowd favourite and in form Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the quarter-finals of the 2012 French Open.

Tsonga had two match points at two different stages of the match, but was unable to convert both of them as Djokovic played some brilliant tennis under pressure to save all of them.

Tsonga, physically and mentally drained from the encounter, seemed rattled and crumbled easily in the fifth.

Djokovic broke twice and clinched the match with a precision backhand to conclude the epic clash after four hours and nine minutes.

#5 Shanghai Masters, 2012 Final

Andy Murray had just won his first Grand Slam by defeating Djokovic in the U.S Open final. Murray looked in top form to beat the Serb for the second time in two months. But Djokovic had other ideas.

Murray didn't have one, not even two, but had five match points on different occasions, but was just unable to close out the match against the Serb.

The World No.1 dashed his hopes with some courageous tennis when it mattered the most. After three hours and 20 minutes of scintillating tennis, Djokovic emerged victorious.

Result :

Novak Djokovic def. Andy Murray 5-7, 7-6, 6-3.