Novak Djokovic, a tennis titan and one of the sport’s all-time greats, is poised once again to lift the trophy Australian Open in 2024. Boasting an impressive 10 titles in Melbourne, Djokovic’s dominance Down Under is unrivaled. However, within this journey of triumph, there are instances where Djokovic faced defeat in his quest for the coveted trophy.
Out of 95 matches he has played at the Australian Open in his career, Djokovic has just lost 8 matches which is a remarkable winning percentage of 92%. Let’s delve into the instances where Novak Djokovic has tasted rare defeats at the Major down under.
Novak Djokovic’s first defeat in 2005
The year 2005 marked Novak Djokovic’s debut at the Australian Open, and it was a baptism by fire as he lost in his very first match at the Grand Slam, which has given him the most success. The first man to play him, was the formidable Marat Safin, who became his initial roadblock in the Australian Open journey.
Marat Safin and Novak Djokovic (Credits: Getty Images)
A mere 18-year-old at the time, Djokovic was swept aside by Safin in a resounding defeat, losing 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 in the Round of 128. It was also one of his most lopsided losses at any Grand Slam, as he could just win only 3 games in a straight-set loss. Safin went on to win the tournament, his second and last Grand Slam triumph of his career.
A second successive loss in the 2006 Australian Open
In 2006, Djokovic found himself facing another unexpected hurdle in the form of American Paul Goldstein. Despite showing signs of improvement, Djokovic succumbed to a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss in the Round of 128. This defeat highlighted the unpredictability inherent in the sport, even for a player of Djokovic’s caliber.
Meeting the legend, Roger Federer in 2007
As Djokovic continued to ascend in the tennis ranks, 2007 seemed promising. Victories over Nicolas Massu, Feliciano Lopez, and Danai Udomchoke propelled him forward. However, his ascent was halted in the Round of 16 by none other than the formidable Roger Federer.
The Swiss maestro, ranked number one and eventual champion, dispatched Djokovic in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3. This was the only time Federer won against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open out of the five times they faced each other in this Major.
A quarterfinal heartbreak in 2009
After clinching his maiden Australian Open title in 2008, Djokovic aimed for back-to-back victories in 2009. However, his journey was cut short in the quarterfinals by American Andy Roddick. Djokovic, went down 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 2-1, retiring early in the fourth set due to heat stress, marking a challenging exit due to health issues.
A thrilling five-set loss in 2010
The year 2010 brought Djokovic face-to-face with another quarterfinal challenge. However, Jo Wilfried-Tsonga emerged as a formidable opponent in a thrilling five-setter. The match, lasting just under four hours, concluded with Tsonga’s victory in a sizzling five-setter with a scoreline, of 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. It was a match filled with intensity, leaving Djokovic on the losing side once again.
Ending the unbeaten streak in 2014
The years following Djokovic’s quarterfinal loss in 2010 witnessed a remarkable streak of dominance. After four consecutive years of tasting victories and winning 28 matches in a row in Australia, the unbeaten streak came to a halt in 2014.
On pourra dire à nos petits-enfants "J'ai vu @stanwawrinka
prime et c'était grand."Un an après leur match épique en 8es, Stan et Djoko tutoient à nouveau les sommets du tennis en quarts de l'Open d'Australie 2014 et Wawrinka prend sa revanche 9-7 au 5e.pic.twitter.com/53BRDZWaqy
— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) January 22, 2024
Stan Wawrinka emerged as the adversary, orchestrating a marathon win with a final scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7. This defeat marked the end of Djokovic’s epic run in Melbourne. Wawrinka who was in supreme form ended up winning the championship beating Rafael Nadal in the finals.
The unforeseen upset in 2017
Perhaps one of the most surprising losses in Djokovic’s illustrious career unfolded in the Round of 64 at the 2017 Australian Open. Dennis Istomin, then ranked 117, shocked the tennis world by defeating the reigning back-to-back champion. Istomin’s triumph came after a four-hour, 49-minute battle, culminating in a 7-6, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory.
Djokovic’s most recent loss at the Australian Open was 5 years ago
The last man to hand Djokovic a defeat in Australia was Hyeon Chung in 2018, which was another surprising loss for the Serbian and the tennis world. In a match that left the fans shocked, the South Korean player achieved the unthinkable – a straight-sets victory over the world number one. With a winning scoreline of 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the Round 4, Chung etched his name in the history books as the player who triumphed over Djokovic in Melbourne.
Hyeon Chung and Novak Djokovic (Credits: Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open journey is filled with both winning and some rare losing moments. Each time he lost, facing different opponents, it showed how tennis can be unpredictable. As Djokovic keeps making history in Melbourne, these losses have taught him some valuable lessons on his path to greatness.
