The Serb soaked up Federer’s relentless aggression to deny the Swiss a ninth All England Club crown with a 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-3) triumph in 4hrs,57mins – the longest Wimbledon men’s final in history.
In a performance cloaked in courage and persistence, Djokovic saved two match points – just has he had against Federer at the 2011 US Open decider.
“Roger is one of the greatest players of all-time, who I respect a lot," Djokovic said.
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"He inspires me, for sure.
"I know I said this before but when I was a four or five-year-old boy I used to dream of being a tennis player one day.
“This has always been the tournament for me that I wanted to win one day. I used to make the trophy out of materials in my room and I hoped I would be able to win it.
"It's special to share this with this crowd and my team. Everbody was suffering I think. My parents are here, that is a dream come true. Thanks for giving everything for me to be here."
A devastated Federer said: “It was long and had everything. I had my chances, but so did he. I have to be happy with my performance.
"But Novak congratulations, man, that was crazy.
"I hope I give some other people a chance to believe around the world.
“I gave it all I had and I can still stand. I hope the same can be said for all the other 37-year-olds.
"My children won't be excited with the plate, they would be more excited with that golden thing. But it is all good, back to being a dad and a husband."
Federer and Djokovic wrestled for 422 points before the Serb claimed the first fifth-set tiebreak staged in a Wimbledon final.
It is the third time Djokovic has beaten Federer in the championship match here and the 26th time in 48 matches.
Just as he had against Rafael Nadal in 2012 Australian Open, Djokovic refused to yield when he was, for long periods of the match, the second best player on court.
Statistics showed how superior Federer was in virtually every category, apart from converting chances.
He won 218 points to Djokovic’s 202; He hit 94 winners to 54 but he will forever lament the serving lapse at 8-7 (40-15).
"I will try to forget," he said.
Former champion Boris Becker was adamant mid-way through the third set that “the match should be over, Novak is lucky to be out there still.”
Yet the Serb, who is now only four majors behind Federer (20) and just two adrift of Nadal (18), proved again he can never be counted out.
The victory lifted him to joint fourth on the Wimbledon all-time winners list alongside Bjorn Borg and Laurie Doherty.
Only Federer (eight) and Williams Renshaw and Pete Sampras (seven) are ahead of him,
Since recovering from elbow surgery last year, Djokovic has won four of the past five majors.
Apart from his five Wimbledon crowns, he has seven Australian, three US and one French Open trophy to his credit.
Djokovic’s previous wins came here in 2011, ’14-15 and ’18.
He is now also the third-most successful man at the All England Club in terms of wins with 72 scalps from 82 matches.
Only Federer (101-12) and Jimmy Connors (84-18) have been more prolific.
Djokovic was unusually subdued for much of the spine-tingling clash as Federer dictated with a lethal mix of junk balling and precision drives.
Separated by the finest margins in a contesting of contrasting styles, it was inevitable a tiebreak would be required to separate the pair.
Federer’s tactic of drawing Djokovic forward to open up the court had worked impressively – and he was superior in throughout the set - but he immediately fell 1-3 behind in the tiebreak.
He roared back to regain the lead and held a 5-3 buffer, only to gift the set to Djokovic.
As murmurs of trepidation echoed around the famous old centre court stadium, Federer launched a blistering counter-push, shredding a strangely passive Djokovic.
The second seed swept back on terms in basically an unchallenged romp as Djokovic was broken three times – including twice to love – as Federer levelled in extraordinary circumstances.
Having basically tanked the second set, Djokovic was more animated in the third as Federer continued to chip away at the Serb’s confidence.
On the ropes at 4-5 (30-40), Djokovic saved a set point and then from 0-15 at 5-6, claimed seven points in a row to lead the tiebreak 3-0.
Untroubled from there to complete a turnaround nobody anticipated as Federer’s immaculate game came off the boil, the world champion pilfered the third set to hold a commanding lead.
But, there was another twist, as Federer charged back to twice serve as Djokovic again waned.
Serving to square the ledger at 5-2, Federer blundered on serve for the first time in the contest.
He recovered to land the set at the second attempt but, as a gripping clash wore on, it was clear he was wilting.
And when Djokovic threaded a backhand winner through a narrow gap to break for 4-2, Federer’s hopes appeared doomed.
But he rebounded in the next game as Djokovic blinked as victory beckoned to break back.
At 4-5, Federer was within two points of defeat at 30-all, but held on.
At 7-all, Federer drew Djokovic into unforced errors and broke to earn the right to serve for the title.
Cruising to 40-15, the usually unflappable Swiss imploded with three forehand errors to hand Djokovic a lifeline.
Djokovic was outraged when at 11-all when he thought Federer’s challenge was late.
As with the two previous tiebreaks, Djokovic was steadier and Federer more cavalier with the Serb preying on unforced errors.
Federer desperately tried to survive but eventually succumbed with framed backhand to lose.
WHERE TO FROM HERE FOR FED?
Federer insists there will be no self-recrimination over the two lost points that could change grand slam history.
Serving for his 21st major and ninth Wimbledon trophy, Federer cruised to 40-15 at 8-7 to have his foot on Novak Djokovic’s throat.
Renowned as the most lethal finisher in tennis, Federer conceded the first championship point when, back-pedalling, he ran around his backhand to hit an off-forehand.
The ball missed the sideline by centimetres.
At 40-30, he charged the net behind a shortish forehand approach, only for Djokovic to smoke a blistering forehand winner cross-court.
Two netted forehands later, Federer’s title hopes evaporated, leaving Djokovic to eventually proceed to a 16th major.
After grappling with the world No.1 for almost five hours, the first question Federer faced at his post-match media conference was “Where do you think it went wrong for you? Two match points, perhaps?
“Yeah, I mean, one shot (the first forehand) I guess. So don't know which one to pick. Your choice,” he said.
Always gracious in defeat, Federer continued: “I don't know what I feel right now. I just feel like it's such an incredible opportunity missed, I can't believe it.“It is what it is, you know.
“Yeah, I think it was a great match with wonderful points played. It had everything. Novak played also amazing today. So I hope it resonates in a big way.“You just always try to push yourself to see things on the better side.“But, yeah, it was definitely tough to have those chances.
“Yeah…take it on your chin, you move on. You try to forget, try to take the good things out of this match. There's just tons of it.
“Like similar to '08 (when he lost 9-7 in the fifth to Rafael Nadal,) maybe, I will look back at it and think, 'Well, it's not that bad after all.'
"For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon.
“I think it's a mindset. I'm very strong at being able to move on because I don't want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match.”
Federer, 37, has already started planning for the US hardcourt swing and beyond but hasn’t decided on whether to return to the French Open in 2020.
“I don't know yet on the clay,” he said.
“There's a lot of positives to take away from the journey I've been for the last few months.“Looking ahead, we had decided in the team I was going to skip Montreal anyway already a week ago, just give myself enough time.
“I wish I had more, but I don't. I'm just going to take enough time off what I can and prepare for Cincinnati and get going from then on again.”
MEN’S ALL-TIME GRAND SLAM TITLES LEADERBOARD
20: Roger Federer (SUI)
18: Rafael Nadal (ESP)
16: Novak Djokovic (SRB)
14: Pete Sampras (USA)
12: Roy Emerson (AUS)
11: Rod Laver (AUS), Bjorn Borg (SWE)
10: Bill Tilden (USA)
Updates
Oh my word. What an incredible final.
Novak Djokovic triumphs 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-2) over Roger Federer in an extraordinary contest which fell just five minutes short of a five-hour mark – surpassing the four hour, 48 minutes final between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in 2008.
Djokovic saved two match points in a truly stupendous performance that has immediately been described as the new greatest match of all time.
"Novak… that was crazy man, congratulations," says Federer.
Oh my word. What an incredible final.
Novak Djokovic triumphs 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-2) over Roger Federer in an extraordinary contest which fell just five minutes short of a five-hour mark – surpassing the four hour, 48 minutes final between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in 2008.
Djokovic saved two match points in a truly stupendous performance that has immediately been described as the new greatest match of all time.
"Novak… that was crazy man, congratulations," says Federer.
1-0 Djokovic… Novak has won the two tiebreaks today, and he starts strongly with Federer sending a backhand long.
1-1
2-1 Djokovic gets the mini break as Federer sends a volley wide.
3-1 Djokovic consolidates with a BIG serve, and Federer's return is weak.
4-1 Djokovic Big trouble for Federer, who makes another error as Djokovic moves within three points of another Wimbledon title.
4-2 Djokovic Novak bites the dust as he chases another Federer drop shot.
4-3 Djokovic The Federer kick serve does the job, as Djokovic's return sails wide. Over to the world No.1…
5-3 Djokovic Big forehand winner from Djokovic.
6-3 Djokovic Incredible forehand winner from Djokovic leaves Federer flattened. Three championship points.
FEDERER HITS THE NET. But ball was called out..so it's a point to be replayed.
7-3 Djokovic NOVAK DJOKOVIC TRIUMPHS
1-0 Djokovic… Novak has won the two tiebreaks today, and he starts strongly with Federer sending a backhand long.
1-1
2-1 Djokovic gets the mini break as Federer sends a volley wide.
3-1 Djokovic consolidates with a BIG serve, and Federer's return is weak.
4-1 Djokovic Big trouble for Federer, who makes another error as Djokovic moves within three points of another Wimbledon title.
4-2 Djokovic Novak bites the dust as he chases another Federer drop shot.
4-3 Djokovic The Federer kick serve does the job, as Djokovic's return sails wide. Over to the world No.1…
5-3 Djokovic Big forehand winner from Djokovic.
6-3 Djokovic Incredible forehand winner from Djokovic leaves Federer flattened. Three championship points.
FEDERER HITS THE NET. But ball was called out..so it's a point to be replayed.
7-3 Djokovic NOVAK DJOKOVIC TRIUMPHS
Federer forces the tiebreak in effortless style!
Djokovic races to a 40-0 lead…. only to collapse as Federer pulls off a string of truly extraordinary hitting.
He's redlining. And it's working.
Federer wins four straight – including a forehand winner on a bold challenge.
Djokovic is fuming at the match umpire for allowing the Federer review.
And the crowd is getting stick in.
But Djokovic saves the break point and digs out a huge serve to get game point.
He can't deliver! Djokovic's court coverage is amazing, but Federer is BETTER.
He comes into the net and his touch on the backhand volley is extraordinary.
Deuce.
Another huge HawkEye replay goes against Djokovic – and we have a second break point in this game.
SAVED! Novak has his 12 games in the fifth set….
Can Federer force a tiebreak?
Djokovic races to a 40-0 lead…. only to collapse as Federer pulls off a string of truly extraordinary hitting.
He's redlining. And it's working.
Federer wins four straight – including a forehand winner on a bold challenge.
Djokovic is fuming at the match umpire for allowing the Federer review.
And the crowd is getting stick in.
But Djokovic saves the break point and digs out a huge serve to get game point.
He can't deliver! Djokovic's court coverage is amazing, but Federer is BETTER.
He comes into the net and his touch on the backhand volley is extraordinary.
Deuce.
Another huge HawkEye replay goes against Djokovic – and we have a second break point in this game.
SAVED! Novak has his 12 games in the fifth set….
Can Federer force a tiebreak?
Those angles… my words. Federer finding angles with his backhand that no mathematician on the planet thought existed.
And he comes back from 15-0 down to hammer home a volley winner and then a Djokovic error levels it at 11-11.
Federer gets a tiny look, at 30-30… but he sends Djokovic's second serve long.
And then concedes the game by putting a forehand into the net. Djokovic leads 11-10.
And once more, it is Federer who has to serve to keep this title alive.
Can he keep it going? He's simply out on his feet. And who is surprised? It's the longest singles match of the tournament.
Federer gets a tiny look, at 30-30… but he sends Djokovic's second serve long.
And then concedes the game by putting a forehand into the net. Djokovic leads 11-10.
And once more, it is Federer who has to serve to keep this title alive.
Can he keep it going? He's simply out on his feet. And who is surprised? It's the longest singles match of the tournament.
