Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have been half of some of the largest matches in Grand Slam historical past.

Federer and Djokovic are two of the biggest males’s tennis gamers of all time, sharing a mixed 44 Grand Slam titles between them.

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The two gamers were massive rivals for many years until Federer formally announced his retirement from tennis in 2022.

Djokovic and Federer performed a complete of 50 matches against each other, and 5 of these battles were in Grand Slam finals.

Novak Djokovic dominated his Grand Slam finals vs Roger Federer

Djokovic leads the head-to-head against Federer 27-23, and also won all 4 of the 5 Grand Slam finals they performed. The first of those took place at the US Open in 2007.

US Open 2007 – Federer beat Djokovic, 7-6(4) 7-6(2) 6-4

Djokovic reached his first ever Grand Slam last at the 2007 US Open, when he was 20 years outdated, after beating the likes of Juan Martin del Potro, Carlos Moya and David Ferrer en route to the last.

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This is where he would play against Federer, who was the three-time defending US Open champion at the time and had dropped just one set en route to the 2007 last. Federer had also won 4 of his 5 earlier matches against Djokovic at the time, but it was the latter who had won their most latest assembly in the Canadian Open last.

Federer confirmed his expertise in this last, as he beat Djokovic 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 to win his fourth consecutive US Open title.

Djokovic was yet to win a Grand Slam at this level, and in his press convention after the match, Federer was requested if he thinks the Serbian could create a rivalry in the future with both himself and Rafael Nadal.

“Very possible, you know,” Federer answered. “Honestly I’ve enjoyed the challenge of young guys challenging me. This is probably my biggest motivation out there. You know, seeing them challenge me, beating them in the final, it’s really for me the best feeling, to be honest (smiling).

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“If a rivalry comes along, great. So far we have not performed many instances in finals of tournaments. It’s always been quarterfinals, last 16. Now we’ve had two finals back to back. That always helps the rivalry. But I still clearly think about the one I have with Nadal much more critical at the second.”

As Federer originally stated that Nadal was a more serious rival at the time, he was then asked if he thinks Djokovic can step up to this level.

Federer added, “Yeah, I imply, he’s been very constant. I think if I would have performed him twice in the semis of the French and Wimbledon then I would have had perhaps more of a rivalry with him, but he landed on Rafa’s aspect. They variety of got it going at the second truly.”

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer pose with their trophies after the 2007 US Open final.

Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Wimbledon 2014 – Djokovic beat Federer, 6(7)-7 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4

It would be seven years until Djokovic would play Federer in a Grand Slam last again, as they confronted off once again for a main title at Wimbledon in 2014.

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During the time between Djokovic’s first Grand Slam last and going through Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon last, he had won six Grand Slam titles, three ATP Finals tournaments and had been world number one for 101 weeks.

Djokovic’s growth was also being manifested in his head-to-head against Federer, as he won a five set thriller against the Swiss to claim his second Wimbledon title.

This was one of a number of thrilling matches Djokovic had already been a part of, including his near six-hour victory over Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open final. Despite this, Djokovic believed that this was actually the best quality major final he had been part of up to this point.

“I was just overwhelmed with the feelings, optimistic feelings, that I was experiencing in the match,” said Djokovic, when asked about his reaction after winning the title. “I was not stunned, I was just making an attempt to get pleasure from the second, rethink what I’ve been through during the match.

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“Sincerely, this has been the best quality Grand Slam final that I ever been part of. I’ve had a longest final against Nadal in the Australian Open 2012. But quality‑wise from the first to last point, this is definitely the best match.

“Roger performed very nicely, I thought, in a very high stage. He confirmed why he’s a champion. He confirmed a preventing spirit, composure in important moments when he was a break down. When I was serving for the match, he came in and performed his best recreation. I did not think I did much unsuitable there.

“Was disappointing losing the fourth set after being so close to win it and match point. But the only way I could have won the match today is by believing that I can make it all the way until the end and staying mentally strong. That’s what I’ve done.

“I did not permit my feelings to fade away, as it was in all probability the case in Roland Garros last a couple, three, 4 weeks in the past. Just very glad to win a Grand Slam last after shedding the last three out of 4.”

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Djokovic would return to world number one after winning Wimbledon in 2014, a position he would hold for 122 consecutive weeks.

Wimbledon 2015 – Djokovic beat Federer, 7-6(1) 6(10)-7 6-4 6-3

Djokovic and Federer would meet once again in the Wimbledon final the following year, showcasing themselves as the two dominant forces on grass courts.

No player had won more Wimbledon titles than Federer, as at this point he was equal with Pete Sampras on seven, but Djokovic was starting to assert dominance in their rivalry.

This included winning back-to-back Wimbledon finals, as Djokovic defeated Federer 7-6(1), 6(10)-7, 6-4, 6-3. Djokovic had previously called Federer the best of all time, and he was asked how he felt to now be competing against him and what he thought was in store for his future.

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“I think there is no purpose not to be glad with what I have achieved,” said Djokovic. “In opposite, I’m thrilled and very proud with all the success that I had so far in the profession, everything I reached. If you would ask me as a 14‑12 months‑outdated back in Serbia making an attempt to discover my means, you know, that this is how I’m going to finish up at 28, of course I would signal the deal and take it immediately.

“There were a couple of Grand Slam finals that I think I could have won. But, again, having said that, everything happens for a reason. I try to learn from every experience, especially the ones that don’t end up victorious for me. I’m going to keep going.

“I’m 28. I really feel good. I do not feel outdated. I have hopefully many more years in entrance of me. I’m going to attempt to push my own limits and see how far I can go actually with titles and with myself enjoying on this high stage.”

US Open 2015 – Djokovic beat Federer, 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4

Djokovic and Federer would play a Grand Slam final against each other again that year, with 2015 being the only year where that happened.

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This came at the US Open, the same tournament where Djokovic reached his first Grand Slam final and lost to Federer in that final. Djokovic was able to get revenge on Federer at the 2015 US Open, as he beat him once again.

Djokovic had now won 10 Grand Slam titles, with three of his final victories coming against Federer, who was asked how many majors he thought the Serbian could win by the end of his career.

“I think he’s enjoying very nicely. Are you kidding me? I think he’s doing very well,” Federer replied. “He’s having a great season, like in 2011. He’s just actually constant.

“Seems like there are not many guys that can hang with him, don’t have the tools or dare to go forward, or they aren’t dare to serve and volley against him because he’s so good on the return. Which he is. He’s perfected his game on the hard courts, no doubt about it.

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“He was always a great clay-court participant, and because he strikes as nicely as he does, he’s strong and constant now on the grass. To say the least, it’s very spectacular. He’s having unbelievable profession. You know, I think everybody knows that he knows that, as nicely. Tonight is another instance of that.

“Clearly he can win many of them. He already has a ton, so obviously he’s got to stay healthy and all that stuff and hungry, but obviously you would think he will win more after tonight.”

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic after the 2018 US Open final.

Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

Wimbledon 2019 – Djokovic beat Federer, 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12(3)

Perhaps the most memorable of Djokovic and Federer’s 5 Grand Slam finals against each other was the last, which came 4 years later at Wimbledon in 2019.

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Djokovic was twice a set up in this match, but it was Federer who had two championship factors in the deciding set. This was at the time when Wimbledon had a deciding set tie-break at 12-all in video games, and after preventing back from jaws of defeat, Djokovic was ready to beat Federer 7-6(5), 1-6 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3).

This last lasted 4 hours and 57 minutes, with Djokovic and Federer holding the report for the longest Wimbledon last ever.

Djokovic’s victory over Federer in this Wimbledon last was his fifteenth Grand Slam title win, placing him 5 behind his Swiss rival and three behind Nadal at the time.

In his press convention after the match, Djokovic was requested if he ever thought about how it would be like to overtake Federer and Nadal and if he felt it was a actual risk.

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“It seems like I’m getting closer, but also they’re winning slams,” said Djokovic. “We’re kind of complementing each other. We’re making each other grow and evolve and still be in this game.

“I think, I imply, those two guys, in all probability one of the largest causes I still compete at this stage. The truth that they made historical past of this sport motivates me as nicely, conjures up me to attempt to do what they have performed, what they’ve achieved, and even more.

“Whether I’m going to be able to do it or not, I don’t know. I mean, I’m not really looking at age as a restriction of any kind for me at least. What I said on the court, I really meant it: Roger really inspires me with his effort at his age.

“It just relies upon how long I’m going to play, whether I’m going to have a likelihood to make historic No. 1 or slams. It relies upon not only on myself, it relies upon on circumstances in life. I’m not just a tennis participant, I’m a father and a husband. You have to stability issues out. Obviously you need to have the proper circumstances, the proper support for issues to play out in the proper means.”

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This was the last Grand Slam last of Federer’s profession, before he retired from tennis three years later.

Djokovic has since overtaken both Federer and Nadal, as he now leads the Grand Slam tally with 24 majors to his title, with the now 39-year-old still competing for more.



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