US Open: A retrospective of Novak Djokovic's final heartbreaks at Flushing Meadows

Bhargav
2016 US Open - Day 14
2016 US Open - Day 14

Defending champion and top seed Novak Djokovic arrives at the 2019 US Open following a semifinal showing at the Cincinnati Masters, where he lost to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal.

Djokovic is one of seven players to have won three titles at the US Open, the others being the trio of Roger Federer, Sampras and Jimmy Connors with five apiece, and John McEnroe (4), Ivan Lendl (3) and Rafael Nadal (3).

The Serb, along with Federer, are the only two players in the Open Era to rack up at least 60 match wins at each of the four majors.

Since a third round exit to Spain's Fernando Verdasco on his US Open debut in 2005 and another ouster in the same round the next year, Djokovic has reached at least the semifinals in each of his last 11 appearances at Flushing Meadows (he did not participate in 2017).

With 69 match wins at the US Open, Djokovic is sixth all-time in the list of most match wins at the last Grand Slam event of the year. With a run to his 12th consecutive semifinal, the Serb would overtake Lendl to take fourth spot in the list, behind Connors, Federer and Agassi.

The Serb has reached the title round at Flushing Meadows on eight occasions, which is joint best along with Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.

But the three-time champion (2011, 2015, 2018) has never successfully defended his title at the last Grand Slam of the year. In fact, Roger Federer's triumph in 2008 was the last time a player successfully defended his US Open title.

Along with Lendl, Djokovic has fallen short in the US Open final on no fewer than 5 occasions. Let us re-live the Serb's 5 US Open final heartbreaks.


#1 2007: Lost to Federer 6-7(4) 6-7(2) 4-6

Djokovic fell to Federer in his first Grand Slam final at 2007 US Open
Djokovic fell to Federer in his first Grand Slam final at 2007 US Open

First-time Grand Slam finalist Djokovic faced three-time defending champion Roger Federer in the 2007 US Open final.

The match started brightly for the young Serb as Federer lost serve in the 11th game of the first set and Djokovic had three consecutive set points on serve.

But Federer saved them all, and then a further two, and proceeded to take the set in the ensuing tiebreak to take a one-set lead.

In a near-repeat of the first set, Djokovic had two more set points which he couldn't convert as Federer took the second set on another tiebreak to take a two-set lead and a stranglehold on the match.

It was Federer's 13th tiebreak win in a Grand Slam final, in 15 attempts.

As Djokovic faded away in the third, Federer strode across the finish line to become the first player in the Open Era to win four successive US Open titles.

#2 2010: Lost to Nadal 4-6 7-5 4-6 2-6

Nadal beats Djokovic in the 2010 US Open final to complete the career Slam
Nadal beats Djokovic in the 2010 US Open final to complete the career Slam

Djokovic beat Frenchman Monfils in straight sets in the quarterfinals and survived two match points before beating Roger Federer in a five-set semifinal to arrive at his second US Open final.

It was the Serb's best run at a Grand Slam in over three years since a win over Tsonga in the 2008 Australian Open final to win his maiden major title.

In his first title match at the US Open in three years, Djokovic faced first-time US Open finalist Rafael Nadal, who had beaten the young Serb in all of their four previous Grand Slam meetings and all in tournament finals.

Djokovic, who was 7-3 over the Spaniard in hardcourts going into the match, dropped the first set 4-6 to the Spaniard.

Nadal, who arrived in the final following six consecutive straight-set victories, was now one-thirds of his way to emulating Neale Fraser (1960) in winning at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set. But Djokovic was not going away without a fight.

The Serb made a brisk start in the second, breaking Nadal twice to take a 4-1 lead only to squander his double-break advantage. At 4-4 (30-30) on Djokovic's serve, rain intervened and the final was abandoned for the day.

The next day, Djokovic seized back the lost momentum to hold serve and just as a tiebreak loomed, the Serb fired a fizzing return at the feet of Nadal in the twelfth game of the set to make it a set apiece.

Stung by the loss of his first set in the tournament, Nadal responded in inimitable style by riding an early break in the third to take a crucial two sets to one lead. In the fourth, a weary Djokovic conceded two breaks of serve as Nadal closed out a hard-fought 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 win.

In the process, Nadal emulated Laver, Agassi and Federer as the only men in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slams and emulated the Australian by winning the French, Wimbledon and US Open titles in the same calendar year.

#3 2012: Lost to Murray 6-7(10) 5-7 6-2 6-3 2-6

Djokovic fell to Murray in his fourth US Open final in 2012
Djokovic fell to Murray in his fourth US Open final in 2012

Defending champion Djokovic arrived in his fourth final at the Flushing Meadows following respective victories over Del Potro in the quarterfinals and Ferrer in the semis.

The Serb faced 2008 finalist Andy Murray across the net, in a repeat of the pair's Australian Open final in 2012 which went Djokovic's way.

It was the Scot who made the brighter start but after trading two breaks apiece, the set proceeded to a tiebreak where Murray converted his sixth set point to take a one-set lead.

Murray took a four-love lead in the second, only for Djokovic to recover both of the breaks. The Scot soon regrouped to break Djokovic in the twelfth game of the set to take a two-set lead for the first time in a major final.

Djokovic responded by taking the next two sets for the loss of just five points to force a decider. The injured Serb, however, ceased to be competitive in the fifth set as Murray sprinted to the finish line in 4 hours 49 minutes to land the biggest title of his career.

In the process, Murray became the first British men's singles player since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a Grand Slam title.

#4 2013: Lost to Nadal 2-6 6-3 4-6 1-6

In 2013 Djokovic lost to Nadal for the second time in a US Open final
In 2013 Djokovic lost to Nadal for the second time in a US Open final

Djokovic beat Youzhny in a four-set quarterfinal and recovered from two sets to one down against Wawrinka in the semis to reach a fourth consecutive title match at Flushing Meadows where familiar foe Nadal awaited.

The pair had split their two previous meetings in US Open finals, Nadal beating Djokovic in 2010 and the Serb returning the favour the next year.

It was Nadal who made the brisker start in their third US Open final, as the Spaniard rode on two breaks of the Djokovic serve to take the opening set. Djokovic responded by breaking the Nadal serve three times in the second set to restore parity at a set apiece.

Nadal was reeling under the onslaught of Djokovic's forehand as the Spaniard went down an early break in the third and was a point away from conceding a double break. But Nadal managed to hold serve and as Djokovic's level plummetted, the Spaniard recovered the break to make it 3-3.

At 4-4 Nadal was under the gun again as he fell behind 0-40 but Djokovic failed to get the break which proved crucial as the Spaniard broke the Serb in the next game to steal a two-sets-to-one lead.

Djokovic's fight ebbed away after the efforts in the previous two sets and Nadal capitalised to close out a 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1 to win his second title at Flushing Meadows.

#5 2016: Lost to Wawrinka 7-6(1) 4-6 5-7 3-6

Djokovic lost a 5th US Open title match to Wawrinka in 2016
Djokovic lost a 5th US Open title match to Wawrinka in 2016

Following victories over Tsonga and Monfils in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively, defending champion Djokovic arrived in his seventh US Open final and his sixth in the last seven years where Stan Wawrinka lay in wait.

The pair's previous Grand Slam final meeting was at the 2015 French Open which went the Swiss' way after Djokovic had taken the opening set.

The 2016 final followed a similar script to the one which unfolded in Paris a year ago.

Djokovic took a 5-2 lead only for Wawrinka to fight back to force a tiebreak which went his way as the Serb took a one set lead.

But Wawrinka exhibited little nerves or big stage fright against the top-seeded Serb. After relinquishing an early break in the second, the Swiss broke Djokovic in the tenth game of the set to level the match at one set all.

Wawrinka rode on two breaks of Djokovic's serve in the third to take a two-sets-to-one lead.

In the fourth set, Djokovic, with a bloodied toe, fought valiantly but couldn't keep up with the Swiss as Wawrinka beat the Serb for the second time in as many Grand Slam meetings to win his first US Open title and a third Grand Slam.

The defeat made Djokovic the only player in the Open Era after Ivan Lendl (1982-84, 1988-89 at the US Open) and Andy Murray (2010-11, 2013, 2015-16 at the Australian Open) to lose five finals at a Grand Slam.

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