The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer has been described as one of the greatest in tennis history.
Djokovic and Federer faced each other 50 times, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head record 27–23, including 13–6 in finals. They played 17 matches at the majors with Djokovic leading 11–6, five which were in finals and a record eleven in the semifinals. Djokovic is the only player to defeat Federer at all four majors, and likewise Federer is the only player to defeat Djokovic at each major. Djokovic also leads their five-set matches at 4–0. In all four of their five-set matches, match points were saved in a game that was not the final game—three times by Djokovic and once by Federer. Djokovic ranks first and Federer ranks third on the men's all-time list for the most major singles titles, with 24 and 20 titles respectively. Their rival Rafael Nadal is ranked between them at second with 22 titles.
The rivalry started in 2006 with Federer winning the first four meetings, but following Djokovic's first win at the 2007 Canadian Open final, the rivalry gradually shifted in favour of Djokovic who won 27 of the next 46 matches through to its conclusion in 2020. Their matches showcased an unpredictable display of shot-making. In most rivalries, the type of playing surface generally has a profound effect on the outcome; however, this rivalry was unusually even across different surfaces and conditions. As such, Djokovic and Federer contested many acclaimed matches over the years, the most prominent being the 2019 Wimbledon final, the longest final in Wimbledon history, in which Djokovic triumphed. Other notable matches they contested are the 2014 Wimbledon and 2015 Wimbledon finals, along with semifinals at the 2010 US Open, 2011 US Open, 2011 French Open, and 2018 Paris Masters.
Their first match was at the 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters, which Federer won in three sets. Their last match was in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open, which Djokovic won in straight sets.
History Australian Open Djokovic and Federer have played five times at the Australian Open, with Djokovic winning four times and Federer winning once. The first time they met at a major was in the fourth round of the 2007 Australian Open, where Federer won in straight sets. Federer went on to win without losing a set in the tournament to claim his tenth Grand Slam title. The next year, they met in a rematch at the 2008 Australian Open semifinals, where Djokovic won in straight sets to reach his second Grand Slam final. It was the first time in nearly four years that someone defeated Federer in straight sets at a Grand Slam. Djokovic proceeded to win his first career major over Tsonga in the final.
Three years later they met again in the semifinals of the 2011 Australian Open. The match was highly competitive, lasting for three hours despite being a straight sets match. Djokovic took the first set in a tight tiebreaker. In the second set, Federer held a substantial lead before Djokovic made a comeback, winning five games in a row to claim the set. Djokovic won after closing out the match in the third set. Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in the final to win his second Australian Open title. Djokovic and Federer met once again in the semifinals of the 2016 Australian Open. Djokovic easily won the first two sets but Federer rallied to win the third. Djokovic, however, broke Federer in the eighth game of the fourth set and then held to win the match and move on to the final. Djokovic again went on to defeat Murray in the final to win the tournament. Djokovic defeated Federer in straight sets in their most recent meeting in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open. In each of their five meetings, the winner of the match went on to win the tournament.
French Open
The pair had two meetings at Roland Garros, with both occurring at the semifinal stage. The first was at the 2011 French Open. Djokovic entered the tournament with a 43-match winning streak. In the match, Federer won the opening set in a tiebreak and then claimed the second set to gain a substantial lead. Djokovic took the third set and was serving for the fourth set, but Federer came back to win it in a tiebreak closing out the match in four sets. The win ended Djokovic's winning streak as well as his 41–0 start to the 2011 season. As a result, Federer advanced to his fifth French Open final where he lost to Nadal, for the fourth time in the final and fifth time overall. Federer's win also saved John McEnroe's record of 42 consecutive match wins to start the 1984 season. The victory further elevated Federer's head-to-head record against Djokovic to 14–9 and 3–1 on clay.
In a rematch the next year, Federer and Djokovic met in the French Open semifinal which saw Djokovic prevail in straight sets and even up their clay record at 3–3. With the win, Djokovic advanced to his first French Open final, where, like Federer the previous year, he lost to Rafael Nadal in four sets.
Wimbledon Djokovic and Federer have met four times in the Wimbledon Championships with Djokovic having 3 victories, all in finals, and Federer 1, in a semifinal. Their first meeting was in the semifinal of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, with Federer winning in four sets to advance to his eighth Wimbledon final. With the win, Federer also became the first player to defeat Djokovic at all four of the Majors. Federer then won the final over Andy Murray to win his seventh Wimbledon title, reclaiming the world number 1 ranking from Djokovic, which enabled Federer to subsequently break Pete Sampras' record of 286 weeks of being ranked as the world number 1. In 2021 Federer's record was broken by Djokovic.
Their next meeting was in the final of the Championships in 2014, which was their second meeting in a Major final. At 3 hours and 56 minutes the match was also their longest encounter until that time. It was a close contest, with Federer winning the first set in a tiebreaker and Djokovic winning the next two, one in a tiebreaker. Federer saved a championship point in the fourth set before he came back to win the set 7–5 to force a fifth set. Djokovic took the fifth set 6–4 to win his second Wimbledon title. With the win, Djokovic prevented Federer from winning a record eight Wimbledon title, as at the time Federer and Pete Sampras jointly held the record of seven titles (Federer did eventually win his eighth in 2017). Djokovic further became the first man to defeat Federer in all four of the Grand Slams.
The two met again in the 2015 Wimbledon final with Djokovic defeating Federer once again, this time in 4 sets, two of which went to tiebreakers.
The 2019 final was their third encounter on Centre Court for the final of the Championships and their fourth match overall in this tournament. Most analysts felt Federer outplayed Djokovic for most of the match (Djokovic stated "Federer was the better player for most of the match") but due to Djokovic winning points at critical moments, namely during the first, third and fifth set tiebreakers, Djokovic was able to win the five-set match. In those three tiebreaks, Djokovic did not make any unforced errors whereas Federer made 11. In the 2-hour-and-2-minute fifth set Djokovic broke Federer's serve in the sixth game to take a 4–2 lead but Federer broke back the next game. Federer later broke Djokovic to take an 8–7 lead and with two aces held a 40–15 lead in the next game and was within one point of becoming, at 37 and 11 months, the oldest man to win a Grand Slam. However, Djokovic saved the two championship points, eventually taking the set 13–12 in the first fifth-set tiebreak in a Wimbledon match (in the first year of the new rule calling for a tiebreak at 12–12). At 4 hours and 57 minutes, the match was their longest encounter in any tournament and the longest Wimbledon final in history. The match has been described as containing "insanely gripping drama" and being both mesmerizing and "mesmerizingly strange" with Djokovic referring to his win as "unreal".
US Open The two players have played six times at the US Open with the series tied at 3–3. Djokovic played Federer in his first Major final at the 2007 US Open. Djokovic began strongly in the final and broke Federer in the eleventh game of the first set. With Djokovic serving for the set, Federer saved five set points to come back and claim the first set in a tiebreak. Djokovic quickly gained a break lead in the second set, but was unable to serve it out as Federer came back again, saving two set points to force the set to a tiebreak which he claimed as well. In the third set, Federer was able to stay ahead on serve. He closed out the match in the tenth game by breaking Djokovic's serve to win the contest in straight sets.
The two subsequently played each other for five consecutive years at the US Open. After the first meeting that took place in the final, the next four meetings all occurred in the semifinals. The next year in 2008, Federer again defeated Djokovic in a four-set semifinal on his way to winning the US Open for the fifth straight time. In 2009, Federer won the semifinal match in straight sets, hitting a memorable tweener shot to set up match point. It was Federer's 40th straight win at the venue as he advanced to his sixth straight US Open final.
Their next two meetings at the tournament in 2010 and 2011 were five-set matches. Both were won by Djokovic and on both occasions he saved double match points. In the fifth set of the 2010 semifinal, Federer led 5–4 and had two match points on Djokovic's serve but Djokovic saved them hitting two forehand winners. Djokovic held, broke Federer's serve, and then held again to win the match 7–5. Djokovic was in disbelief that he'd won, putting an end to Federer's run of six straight US Open finals. "To be honest, I was just closing my eyes and hitting forehands as fast as I can on match point. If it goes in, it goes in. If it goes out, just another loss to Federer in the US Open," Djokovic stated. "It was just a couple of points that decided the match. I managed to come back. I was very lucky."
In the 2011 semifinal, Federer started the match strongly as he took the opening set in a tiebreak and won the second set comfortably. Djokovic won the next set, and claimed the fourth set as well to come back and force the match into a deciding fifth set. Federer recovered to gain a 5–3 lead and had double match points on his own serve. Djokovic saved the first match point with a memorable return winner and went on to win four games in a row to win the match once again by the same score of 7–5 in the fifth. "Sure, it's disappointing, but I have only myself to blame," said Federer. "I set it all up perfect, but I couldn't finish it. It was a tough year in terms of some tough losses at some crucial stages of the season but look, it's not the first time it's happened." Both years, Djokovic went on to play Rafael Nadal in the final, losing to him in 2010 before defeating him in 2011 to win his first US Open title.
The two later met in the final of the 2015 US Open, where Djokovic won 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4.
Comparison of Grand Slam titles Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles to Federer's 20. Djokovic has the all-time record of 14 hardcourt Grand Slam titles (Australian Open and US Open), three more than Federer. Federer has the all-time Wimbledon record of 8 titles, one more than Djokovic. TournamentDjokovicFedererAustralian Open 10 6French Open 3 1Wimbledon 7 8US Open 4 5Total Count 24 20 Bold indicates outright record.
ATP Masters