Novak Djokovic is truly the escape artist of Grand Slam tennis having made some astonishing turnarounds against some of the world’s best.
Fittingly, three of the best comebacks have been at the US Open at Flushing Meadows where he won his fourth title last year. New York, New York saw the defending champion come back from the dead twice against Roger Federer…
1. 2019 Wimbledon Final v Roger Federer
‘Murray’s greatest achievements’ |…
‘Murray’s greatest achievements’ |…
Fearnley talks ‘surreal’ match vs…
Is Murray Britain’s greatest sportsman?
‘I wish I hadn’t gone on the court’ |…
Has Djokovic had surgery and will he…
‘Yet to find my highest level this…
Why is Djokovic not loved like other…
Murray and Raducanu’s doubles chances…
Can Murray win men’s doubles with…
‘It’s a huge decision!’ | Why has…
Henman: Murray gave British tennis a…
‘It’s a wise decision’ | Overend on…
Fluid logo
This is the match result that made no sense but also perfect sense at the same time. Djokovic was playing Federer for the third time in a Wimbledon final having won the other two in 2014 and 2015. In this episode, the Swiss was the statistically better player in almost every facet of the game including serve, break points won and winners.
It looked all over for the reigning champion at 40-15 and 8-7 in the fifth with Federer serving, but the 20-time Slam winner – playing in his last ever major final – ran to the net hopefully on the second match point and Djokovic passed nervelessly with a forehand crosscourt. Of course he did. At 12-12, Djokovic claimed the first classic tie-break at Wimbledon 7-3 and gave off the air of having just won a charity match. Nonchalance under pressure.
2. 2010 US Open Semi-Final v Roger Federer
When Roger Federer beat Andy Murray in the 2008 US Open final, it was his fifth Flushing Meadows success in a row. Few would have thought it was his last.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Federer was two sets to one up against Djokovic in the 2010 semi-final and had two match points on the Serbian’s serve. Djokovic saved himself with two corking forehand winners. The third seed said he “closed his eyes” when hitting them but then closed the match out 7-5 with eyes wide open after breaking the Swiss in the next game.
3. 2011 US Open Semi-Final v Roger Federer
Lightning does strike twice in NYC. Djokovic was taking over the world in 2011, having won 43 matches in a row before losing to the Fed Express in the French Open semi-final. Djoker’s growing belief against the Swiss was evident, but when they met again on Arthur Ashe 12 months after the five-set epic Part 1, Djokovic found himself two sets down.
Djokovic levelled but then Federer broke in the decider and was 5-3 up and 40-15. He planted a conservative first serve out wide and Djokovic belted a crosscourt forehand past the startled Swiss. The No. 1 seed lapped it up with the crowd while Federer later called the return a lucky shot. At 40-30, the five-time Flushing Meadows champion hit a body serve but the bendable torso of the Serb manufactured a return. Federer didn’t win another game and lost 7-5.
4. 2012 Australian Open Final v Rafael Nadal
The 2012 Melbourne final was an exhausting watch. At seven minutes under six hours, it was the longest major final in history. Djokovic’s powers of resilience were extraordinary when he seemed down and out at 2-4 in the final set. He had already played a four-hour fifty-minute semi-final against Andy Murray, saving three breakpoints at 5-5 in the fifth against the Brit.
On finals day, he broke Nadal and outlasted him to win 7-5 in the decider, ripping his shirt off a superhuman body in celebration. Both players sat in chairs afterwards for the trophy presentation speeches.
5. 2023 US Open Third Round v Laslo Djere
Djokovic was as stunned as the audience when his fellow Serb Laslo Djere powered into a two-set lead during the night session at Flushing Meadows. The favourite was so agitated, he left the court to give himself a pep talk. When Djokovic is on the ropes, he is as slippery as an eel and came storming back to win the next three sets against the 28-year-old compatriot for the loss of only five games.
6. 2012 US Open Final v Andy Murray
Ok. This one shouldn’t strictly qualify as the result was negative. However, coming back from two sets down against an inspired Andy Murray took cojones, especially as Djokovic sniffed that a hitherto major-less Scot was struggling with his fifth attempt to win a big one.
Djokovic would have been the first man for 63 years to come back from 2-0 down in a final to win in New York. Murray took a bathroom break to give himself a must-win message and it worked. Even then the Serb managed to claw back one of the double breaks.
7. 2012 French Open Quarter-Final v Jo Wilfried-Tsonga
Djokovic said that home favourite Tsonga was the better player over a four hour and nine-minute epic but, just as he did at Wimbledon in 2019, the world No 1 came through with the bravest of plays when the chips were down.
He saved two match points at 4-5 in the fifth, one with another of those forehand winners and then another two at 5-6. It was another match when the opponent did everything but win. Tsonga was in tears. That’s what Djokovic does to you.