NOVAK DJOKOVIC & ROGER FEDERER: THE TENNIS RIVALRY

Written by: Staff on 24th August 2015

NOVAK DJOKOVIC & ROGER FEDERER: THE TENNIS RIVALRY

epa04441783 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during his semi final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 11 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have met 41 times on the ATP World Tour. The Swiss leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 21-20 after a straight-sets win in the Cincinnati final gave him his seventh crown there and the edge over the Serb in their rivalry.

Their rivalry features the second-most matches played in the Open Era; only Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have faced off more often, with 42 battles.

Below is a history of the pair’s 41 matches.

2015 Western & Southern Open final, hard, Federer d. Djokovic 76(1) 63

The top two seeds were locked at 20-20 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series going into the final as Djokovic was bidding to win his first title in Cincinnati and complete a Career Golden Masters. The Serb had won their three previous meetings, but Federer’s aggressive mentality in cruising through the main draw saw him full of confidence for Sunday’s final against the World No. 1.

The Swiss won 40 per cent of return points entering the encounter and pressed for an early break immediately. Djokovic saved a trio of break points in the third game and another after a six-minute fifth game. The opener would proceed to a tie-break, where Federer would snatch an early mini-break and power through to take the first set, 7/1 in the tie-break. Federer would continue applying pressure on the Djokovic serve as the match progressed, surging to a 3-0 lead in the second set after the top seed double faulted to hand the initial break to the Swiss. He would hold serve to the finish line, striking 32 winners and seven aces in total to win his seventh ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati.

“I tried to really mix it up on his second serve and I was hoping to serve good enough myself to keep me out of trouble,” Federer said during an interview with ESPN following the match. “He had that one bad game at the beginning of the second set, which made the difference in the match.

“I’ve seen Novak adapt to my play over the years and he’s also improved a lot. His movement and his backhand and forehand are always so solid. There aren’t many errors coming out of his forehand wing now. Our rivalry has definitely evolved.”

2015 Wimbledon final, London, grass, Djokovic d. Federer 76(1) 67(10) 64 63

For a second straight year in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic triumphed over seven-time champion Federer. He became the first player since Federer in 2007 to successfully defend his title at the All England Club.

Djokovic and Federer had advanced with straight-sets wins in their semi-final matches, respectively against Richard Gasquet and Andy Murray, and little separated the World No. 1 and No. 2 through the first two sets of the final. Djokovic saved two set points at 5-6 in the first set, then proceeded to win 14 of 15 points. In a dramatic second set, Federer fought off seven set points – including six in the tie-break – before drawing level. Djokovic responded with a break early in the third set and needed one more break in the fourth to set him on his way to his 200th Grand Slam match win and ninth major title.

“I was aware coming onto the court, that Roger would play his best when it matters the most. He pushes you to limits,” said Djokovic.

2015 Internazionali BNL d’Italia final, clay, Djokovic d. Federer 64 63

Djokovic entered the Rome final on the heels of a ruthless run of results and left with a 22-match win streak, his fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown of the year and fourth at the prestigious tournament. Djokovic triumphed in just 76 minutes, claiming 86 per cent of first serve points and firing 19 winners.

Federer was ruthless off the ground against Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals, but with Djokovic standing tall and taking the ball early, he found himself struggling to make inroads from the back of the court.

The Swiss would have his moments of brilliance, powering a backhand winner down the line to save a second break point in the second game of the second set, but it was not enough. Djokovic took the early lead with a break for 2-0 and did not stumble from then on.

2015 BNP Paribas Open final, hard, Djokovic d. Federer 63 67(5) 62

In a rematch of the 2014 final, Djokovic fended off Federer again to win his fourth title in Indian Wells. Neither had dropped a set en route to their 38th meeting, and the Serb withstood nerves and wild momentum shifts to successfully defend his title with a two hour, 17-minute victory.

The win clinched Djokovic’s 50th ATP World Tour title and his 21st ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.

“I thought overall it was a great match from my side, very solid, great intensity, great commitment to hit every ball,” said Djokovic. “I was very focused in the present moment.”

2015 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final, Dubai, hard, Federer d. Djokovic 63 75

Federer captured a seventh crown at a third different tournament in hoisting the Dubai trophy, defeating Djokovic to retain the title. The 33-year-old Swiss, who was contesting his ninth final in 12 visits to this ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament, improved his overall tour-level finals record to 84-42.

Federer served four aces in the 37-minute opener and became the fourth player (since 1991) to hit 9000 aces when he fired down a service winner at the start of the sixth game of the second set. He would pounce in the 11th game, breaking Djokovic with a forehand winner to lead 6-5. Federer faltered slightly serving for the match and was forced to save a seventh break point, before sealing victory at the second time of asking in 84 minutes.

“I think it’s really become a very nice rivalry,” said Federer. “I think we play very nicely against each other, and it seems people like the way we play against each other, as well. I don’t think we have to adjust our games very much against each other, which I think is nice, as well. We can just play our game, and then the better man wins.”

2014 Shanghai Rolex Masters semi-final, Shanghai, hard, Federer d. Djokovic 64 64

Federer snapped two-time defending champion Djokovic’s 28-match winning streak on Chinese soil as he reached his 39th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final and second in Shanghai. The win brought the Swiss back to No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Federer needed just one break point to take the lead and eventually the first set in 48 minutes. The 22-time Masters 1000 champion broke the World No. 1 again in the opening game of the second set and maintained the one-game lead. The Serbian saved two match points on his serve before Federer served out the match in one hour and 35 minutes.

2014 Wimbledon final, London, grass, Djokovic d. Federer 67(7) 64 76(4) 57 64

Djokovic and Federer staged yet another Grand Slam thriller, with the Serb overcoming a rollercoaster fourth set to claim his second Wimbledon title and seventh crown at the major level. Djokovic returned to World No. 1 with the win, embarking on his third stint atop the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Federer’s resiliency was on full display in his ninth Wimbledon final, saving a championship point in the fourth set, while reeling off five consecutive games from 2-5 down. The momentum swung to his corner as he forced a deciding set, with the Centre Court faithful roaring in approval of the high-quality affair. Djokovic would not be denied, however, as the top seed converted his fourth break of serve for the victory after three hours and 56 minutes.

The 27-year-old Djokovic turned the tide in Grand Slam finals, having lost five of his past six coming into the Wimbledon final. He lifted the trophy at the All England Club for the second time, having previously triumphed in 2011 with victory over Nadal.

2014 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters semi-final, Monte-Carlo, clay, Federer d. Djokovic 75 62

Federer ended Djokovic’s reign in Monte-Carlo with victory in 75 minutes. Djokovic, who saw his 13-match winning run come to an end, had completed the Indian Wells-Miami double the previous month. After missing the chance to break Djokovic at 4-4 in the first set, Federer found himself in trouble as he faced two set points at 15/40 on serve in the 10th game. The Basel native held on, though, and then clawed his way back from 40/0 down on Djokovic’s serve in the following game to break the Serb and steal the set. With Djokovic hampered by an injured right wrist, which was heavily strapped, Federer took full advantage and broke the Serb twice to prevail. He lost just five points on serve in the second set.

2014 BNP Paribas Open final, Indian Wells, hard, Djokovic d. Federer 36 63 76(3)

Djokovic rallied past Federer for his first title of the year and third at Indian Wells. Djokovic and Federer were squaring off for the 33rd time, with the second-seeded Serb snapping Federer’s 11-match win streak. After failing to serve out the victory at 5-4 in the third set, Djokovic came back strong in the tie-break to defeat the four-time champion. The 26 year old claimed his 42nd title and 17th at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, tying American Andre Agassi at third on the Masters 1000 title leaders list.

2014 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semi-finals, Dubai, hard, Federer d. Djokovic 36 63 62

It was a hyper aggressive Federer who ended a three-match losing run against Djokovic, defeating the Serb for the first time since the 2012 Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati. Despite losing the first set, the Swiss hit his backhand with conviction and attacked the net frequently. He took advantage of a brief rain delay in the second set to come back strongly. The five-time Dubai titlist broke Djokovic before dominating the decider with two further service breaks. It was the first time that Federer has lost the first set against Djokovic and rallied to win. Victory for Federer denied Djokovic, a four-time champion at the Aviation Club, the 550th match win of his career and earned the Swiss a shot at winning his 78th tour-level title.

2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals round robin, London, indoor hard, Djokovic d. Federer 64 67(2) 62

A repeat of the 2012 final in London, Djokovic and Federer squared off for the second time in just four days after not meeting in nearly a year. Playing in his fifth match in six days, all against Top 15 competition, the Serb extended his overall winning streak to 18 straight after a two hour and 22 minute struggle. Federer opened the match in strong form, winning free points on his serve and taking the ball early in rallies, disrupting Djokovic’s timing. The Swiss was unable to convert on a break point at 4-4 in the first set, however, and his focus drifted at a crucial juncture in the next game, handing the set to Djokovic when a forehand sailed long.

Djokovic struggled with his balance and footwork in the second set and a bevy of loose forehands opened the door for Federer. Four combined breaks of serve in six games towards the end of the set led to a tie-break, which Federer would dominate.

With neither player able to capitalise on momentum shifts, Djokovic opened the third set with a break at love and never looked back, breaking again for 4-1. Despite a few wayward games in the second set, Djokovic dominated on his serve throughout the match, particularly on his second serve. Additionally, when his offensive firepower was missing he drew on his defensive prowess to win points.

(Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/rivalries-djokovic-federer )

Topics: Atp World Tour, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Tennis News, Tennis Rivalry

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10sBalls_com says:

August 24, 2015 at 10:17 am

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