As Novak Djokovic sets his sights on securing a 25th Grand Slam title in 2025, the Serbian tennis legend has revisited the match he deems the most “nerve-wracking” of his illustrious career. Djokovic, who currently boasts 24 Grand Slam titles, needs just one more to surpass Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Looking ahead to the Australian Open, Djokovic is confident about his recovery after an injury-plagued 2024 season. Although he reached one Grand Slam final in the past year, a loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon mirrored the outcome of their 2023 final clash. However, Djokovic’s off-season plans include working with Andy Murray, whom he has hired as his coach. The duo will team up for training as they prepare for the new season and the first major of 2025.
A Historic 2019 Wimbledon Final
Among Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam victories, one stands out as particularly significant—the 2019 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. Reflecting on the match, Djokovic described it as the most “nerve-wracking” encounter of his career, noting that Federer statistically dominated much of the match. Federer had won more points, broke Djokovic’s serve, and was serving for the championship at 8-7 in the fifth set with a 40-15 lead. Djokovic, however, fought to stay in the game, determined to make Federer earn his victory.
The match was a dramatic showdown, with Djokovic ultimately winning 7-6(7-5), 1-6, 7-6(7-4), 4-6, 13-12(7-3) in a historic final that lasted nearly five hours. The fifth set alone stretched over two hours, and Federer had two championship points at 8-7, 40-15 on serve. However, Djokovic’s resilience saw him secure his fifth Wimbledon title, marking a milestone in his career.
Federer’s Last Grand Slam Final
This monumental victory also marked the end of an era for Federer, as it was his last-ever Grand Slam final. For Djokovic, it added to his already impressive Wimbledon tally, which now stands at eight titles—two behind Federer, who holds the all-time record for most Wimbledon titles. Djokovic has since added two more Wimbledon titles to his name, further cementing his place among the all-time greats.
As Djokovic looks to the future, his reflections on past triumphs, particularly his dramatic 2019 victory over Federer, serve as a reminder of his mental fortitude and unyielding pursuit of excellence.
