By Marc McGowan
July 14, 2019, will forever be etched as a decisive date in the legacies of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
At age 37 and not having won a grand slam for 18 months, Federer famously – or infamously, depending on your view – held consecutive match points on serve against Djokovic at 8-7 in the fifth set of that year’s Wimbledon men’s singles final.
Novak Djokovic lifts the trophy after defeating Switzerland's Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2019Credit: AP
The so-called “War of 13-12” proved a crossroads moment.
Djokovic escaped that game and went on to secure the 16th of his record-setting 24 major titles, in Wimbledon’s maiden final-set tie-break finish, 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3).
The next eight titles came in an extraordinary four-year period of domination that stamped Djokovic as arguably, although almost certainly, the greatest men’s player in tennis history.
Federer’s agonising defeat was his last appearance in a slam final, leaving him stranded on a then-record 20 such titles, including eight at Wimbledon.
“King Roger” played only four more majors across the next two years before retiring in a blubbering mess alongside another great rival, Rafael Nadal, at the 2022 Laver Cup after not playing competitively for more than a year at that point.
Less than a week ago, Carlos Alcaraz – who beat Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon decider – won the first Roland-Garros men’s final in two decades not featuring one of the “Big Three”.
Federer’s 2019 Wimbledon loss was his last major final.Credit: AP
There is a strong likelihood for the first time since 1998 that none of Federer, Djokovic or Nadal will contest Wimbledon next month, signalling another seismic shift in the sport. Federer is long retired, Nadal announced this week he was skipping the grass to focus on the Olympics, and Djokovic faces a race against time to be ready after knee surgery barely a week ago.
‘I thought it was all over’
Djokovic admitted years later he had “a bit of luck” on the second of Federer’s match points in the 2019 Wimbledon final, having leaned towards his backhand on return, only for Federer to serve down the T to his forehand. “At this point, I thought it was over. The ball [I hit] could have met the net. I was a bit lucky at this moment, it’s fair to say.”
Djokovic could only chip back a forehand return. Federer went back to that side as he approached the net, only for the Serbian superstar to rip a cross-court pass winner that helped change the course of history.
However, it was not the first time in this storied rivalry that Djokovic did that.
Djokovic clobbered two winners to save match points in the fifth set of their 2010 US Open semi-final – when Federer led 16-1 in grand slam titles – on his way to denying another “Fedal” final, then delivered another Houdini-esque escape at the same tournament, at the same stage, against the same opponent 12 months later.
The Big Three: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
With that context, it is little wonder Djokovic and Federer were never on the best of terms.
Reflecting on their relationship in comments leaked this week from a soon-to-be released Amazon Prime documentary, Federer: Twelve Final Days, Federer said he did not give Djokovic the “respect he deserved” early in his career because of “technical flaws”.
“But then he ironed those things out super well and became an unbelievable, monster of a player.”
Federer also offered his theory on why the “misunderstood” Djokovic became such a polarising figure during his ascension to the top, saying some fans probably saw him as a “party crasher”.
“There was a lot of Rafa-Roger love there, so when Novak came, probably a lot of people said, ‘Look, we don’t need a third guy. We’re happy with Roger and Rafa’,” Federer said.
“The Federer fans at the beginning didn’t really like him because they just thought, ‘Roger’s a bit more easy; he does it with ease’. Then Novak came in with his strong personality and that unbelievable grit of wanting to win at all costs.
“I think also Novak was triggered by the relationship with the fans ... that deep focus maybe scared some people away.”
Federer and Djokovic met 50 times (27-23 Djokovic); Federer and Nadal faced off on 40 occasions (24-16 Nadal); and Nadal and Djokovic have played 59 matches so far (Djokovic 30-29).
Together, along with super sidekicks Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, they oversaw an unforgettable era that only now seems to be coming to a close.
Becoming the hunted
Alcaraz’s five-set triumph over Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final was seismic on numerous fronts.
It denied Djokovic from becoming just the third man in the Open era (since 1968) to win five consecutive Wimbledon titles and joining Federer on eight overall.
Alcaraz already had a major title by then, but it came at the previous year’s US Open, when Djokovic was still unable to enter the country because of his vaccination status.
This one represented something bigger for the tennis world at large, given the significance of a young star taking Djokovic’s scalp on a titanic stage.
“I’ve won some epic finals that I was very close to losing. Maybe this is kind of a fair-and-square deal, I guess, to lose a match like this for me here,” Djokovic said at the time.
“Credit to Carlos – amazing poise in the important moments. For someone of his age to handle the nerves like this, be playing attacking tennis, and to close out the match the way he did [was impressive].”
This latest “Generation Next” was not finished.
Jannik Sinner won his maiden grand slam title at this year’s Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images
Four months later, Italy’s Jannik Sinner upset Djokovic twice in 12 days, in the Davis Cup semi-finals then the round-robin stage of the ATP Finals.
Djokovic turned the tables when they met again in the title match at the ATP Finals, but there was suddenly a vulnerability about “Nole” that has only increased since.
Sinner, who became the new world No.1 this week, thumped Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open semi-finals, with the Serb failing to earn a break point for the first time in his grand slam career.
Djokovic, now 37 – just like Federer was in that classic Wimbledon match – has not reached a single final in 2024, let alone won a title. He dropped to No.3 in the rankings after Alcaraz’s Roland-Garros victory.
It has been a strange year for Djokovic, who parted ways with coach Goran Ivanisevic in April and long-time fitness coach Marco Panichi only weeks later.
Sinner, 22, and Alcaraz, 21, could be the top two seeds at Wimbledon next month even if Djokovic is fit, which is not expected to be the case.
They have already fostered a captivating rivalry of their own, with Alcaraz’s five-set defeat of Sinner in the Roland-Garros semi-finals edging him 5-4 ahead.
At least in Sinner and Alcaraz, worthy and ambitious successors have belatedly arrived. American great John McEnroe even suggested Alcaraz was better than any of the Big Three at the same age.
“It doesn’t matter what I have achieved at this age if I stagnate here,” Alcaraz said. “I want to continue growing in my career and get to where Djokovic, Rafa and Federer are. The good ones and the greats have continued to improve in their careers until they are still 37 and 38 years old.”
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