Challenges Faced by Novak Djokovic: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Novak Djokovic's life and career.

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He holds the record for most weeks as world No. 1 (428) and year-end No. 1 finishes (8). Djokovic boasts a record 24 major men's singles titles, including a record ten Australian Open titles. He has won 99 singles titles, including a record 72 Big Titles encompassing majors, Masters, year-end championships, and an Olympic gold medal. Djokovic is the only man to simultaneously hold all four major titles on three different surfaces and the only man to achieve a triple Career Grand Slam. He is also the only player to complete a Career Golden Masters twice and the only singles player to win all Big Titles in his career.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

2005: Injury and Season End

On 26 July 2017, Novak Djokovic announced he would miss the US Open and the rest of the season to recover from his injury. This ended his streak of 51 consecutive Grand Slam appearances since his debut in 2005.

2007: Australian Open Second Round Exit

In January 2017, At the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic lost in the second round to Denis Istomin, marking his first early exit since 2007 and first loss at a major to a player outside the top 100.

2008: Semifinal and Final Appearances

In 2008, Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals in Dubai and at the French Open, losing to Rafael Nadal in the latter. He secured titles at Indian Wells and the Italian Open, marking his fourth Masters title. He also reached the Queen’s Club final, losing to Nadal, and exited Wimbledon in the second round. He reached the quarterfinals at the Rogers Cup and lost the Cincinnati final to Andy Murray. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he lost in the singles semifinals.

2009: Technical Difficulties and Serve Improvement

During the 2009 season, Djokovic experienced technical difficulties that coincided with his switch to the Head racket series, but he eventually improved his serve to become a major weapon again.

2009: 2009 Madrid Masters Semifinal

In 2009, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played in the Madrid Masters semifinal, marking another significant match in their rivalry.

2009: Early Exit and Finals Appearances

In 2009, Novak Djokovic started with an upset at the Brisbane International. He retired at the Australian Open quarterfinals due to heat. He won the Dubai Championships, then lost in the Indian Wells Masters quarterfinals. He reached the Miami Open final. During the clay season, he reached finals at the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open. He won the Serbia Open. At the Madrid Open, he lost in the semifinals. He exited the French Open in the third round. Djokovic reached the final of the Gerry Weber Open. During the 2009 US Open Series, he reached the quarterfinals in Montreal, then made the final in Cincinnati. At the US Open, he reached the semifinals.

2009: Wimbledon Exit

In 2016, At Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic's 30-match Grand Slam winning streak ended with a third-round loss to Sam Querrey, his earliest Slam exit since the 2009 French Open.

2010: 2010 Australian Open Quarterfinal

In 2010, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinal in five sets, after Djokovic fell ill during the match.

2010: 2010 US Open Semifinal

In 2010, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played in the US Open semifinal, contributing another classic match to their rivalry.

2010: Mixed Results and Doubles Title

In 2010, Novak Djokovic began the season at the AAMI Classic. At the Australian Open, he fell in the quarterfinals. He reached the semifinals in Rotterdam and won the Dubai Championships. In March, he led Serbia to a win in the 2010 Davis Cup. After losses in Indian Wells and Miami, he split with his coach. At the 2010 Serbia Open, he withdrew. At the French Open, he lost in the quarterfinals. He captured his first ATP doubles title at the Aegon Championships. At Wimbledon, he lost in the semifinals.

2011: Sergio Tacchini Sponsorship Issues

Djokovic's dominance in 2011 caused Sergio Tacchini to fall behind on bonus payments, leading to the termination of the sponsorship contract.

2011: 2011 Davis Cup

In 2011, Juan Martín del Potro defeated Novak Djokovic at the Davis Cup.

2011: 2011 Italian Open Semifinal

In 2011, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray played in the Italian Open semifinal, marking another significant match in their rivalry.

2011: 2011 Miami Masters Final

In 2011, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal competed in the Miami Masters final, adding another notable match to their rivalry.

2011: 2011 US Open and French Open Semifinals

In 2011, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played in the US Open and French Open semifinals, continuing their tradition of intense and memorable matches.

2012: 2012 Summer Olympics Bronze Medal Match

In 2012, Juan Martín del Potro defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the Bronze medal match at the Summer Olympics.

2012: 2012 Australian Open Victory

In 2012, Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal in five sets after an intense match lasting 5 hours and 53 minutes. This match is recorded as the longest major final ever played, highlighting their fierce competition and Djokovic's resilience.

2012: Australian Open Win and Olympic Games

In 2012, Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open, defeating Rafael Nadal in the final. He lost to John Isner in the semifinals of Indian Wells but retained his Miami title. Djokovic fell to Nadal in the finals of Monte Carlo and the Italian Open. At the French Open, he lost to Nadal in the final. At Wimbledon, he was beaten by Federer in the semifinals. Djokovic was Serbia's flag bearer at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, finishing fourth. He defended his Rogers Cup title but lost the Cincinnati Masters final.

2012: 2012 Shanghai Masters Victory

In 2012, Novak Djokovic won the Shanghai Masters final against Andy Murray in a three-set thriller, saving five championship points. This victory marked Djokovic's first Shanghai Masters title and ended Murray's 12-0 winning streak at the event.

2013: 2013 Encounters

In 2013, Juan Martín del Potro defeated Novak Djokovic at the Indian Wells Masters, marking his second career Masters final. Later that year, Djokovic won an epic five-setter at the Wimbledon Championships semifinals and a thrilling three-setter at the Shanghai Masters final.

2013: 2013 Australian Open and US Open Matches

In 2013, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka played two notable matches. At the Australian Open, Djokovic won 12-10 in the fifth set in a match considered one of the best ever played. Then at the US Open semifinals Djokovic won 6-4 in the fifth set.

2013: 2013 Monte-Carlo Masters Victory

In 2013, Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal at the Monte-Carlo Masters, ending Nadal's streak of eight consecutive titles. This victory marked a significant moment in their rivalry, showcasing Djokovic's ability to challenge Nadal on clay courts.

2013: Winning Streak and Coaching Change

In 2013, Novak Djokovic started at the Hopman Cup. At the Australian Open, he won a record third consecutive title. He helped Serbia in the Davis Cup, won the Dubai Tennis Championships, but his winning streak ended at Indian Wells. He was upset at the Miami Masters. He helped Serbia defeat the United States in Davis Cup. He won the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, and suffered early exits at the Madrid Open and Rome Masters. At the 2013 French Open, he advanced to the semifinals. At Wimbledon, he lost the final to Murray. Djokovic was a finalist at the US Open. He later won the China Open and the Shanghai Masters. He then claimed the Paris Masters and ended the year by winning the 2013 ATP World Tour Finals. He announced that Boris Becker would join his team as head coach for 2014.

2014: 2014 Wimbledon Final

In 2014, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played in the Wimbledon final, marking another significant match in their rivalry.

2014: Wimbledon Title and Year-End Ranking

In 2014, Novak Djokovic began by winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. At the Australian Open, he lost in the quarterfinals. He won the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Masters. A wrist injury affected his Monte Carlo campaign. He won the Italian Open and donated his prize to flood victims. At the French Open, he lost to Nadal in the final. Djokovic won his second Wimbledon title, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. At the US Open, he lost in the semifinals. He won a fifth China Open title. At the ATP Finals, he secured the year-end No. 1 ranking.

2014: 2014 Australian Open Quarterfinal

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinal, winning 9-7 in the fifth set. This win broke Djokovic's streak of 14 consecutive major semifinals and ended a 28-match winning streak, leading to Wawrinka winning his first major title.

2015: 2015 French Open Semifinal

In 2015, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray played in the French Open semifinal, contributing another classic match to their rivalry.

2015: 2015 Wimbledon Final

In 2015, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played in the Wimbledon final, adding another notable match to their rivalry.

2015: Dominant Season with Multiple Titles

In 2015, Novak Djokovic started at the Qatar Open, losing in the quarterfinals. He won the Australian Open, earning a record fifth title. He finished runner-up at the Dubai Championships. Djokovic won his 21st Masters title at Indian Wells and a fifth title at Miami. He won the Monte-Carlo Masters. He withdrew from the Madrid Masters but captured the Rome Masters. At the French Open, he lost the final. He won his third Wimbledon title. Djokovic lost the Cincinnati Masters final. At the US Open, he won his third Grand Slam of the year. He ended the season by winning the China Open.

2015: 2015 French Open Final and Masters Wins

In 2015, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic in the French Open final to claim his second major title. Later that year, Djokovic beat Wawrinka at the Cincinnati Masters and Paris Masters.

2016: 2016 Rio Olympics First Round

In 2016, Juan Martín del Potro upset Novak Djokovic in the first round at the Rio Olympics en route to the final.

2016: 2016 Year-End No. 1 Battle

In 2016, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray battled for the year-end No. 1 ranking, with the decision being made in the final of the World Tour Finals, which Murray won in straight sets. This rivalry peaked as they competed for the top spot.

2016: 2016 French Open Final

In 2016, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray played in the French Open final, adding another notable match to their rivalry.

2016: 2016 US Open Victory for Wawrinka

In 2016, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic in a major final for the second time at the US Open.

2016: First Round Loss Since 2016 Summer Olympics

In 2025, Novak Djokovic participated in the ATP 500 Tournament in Doha, but lost to Matteo Berrettini in the first round. This marked the first time Djokovic lost in any first round since the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2017: 2017 Italian Open Final Upset

In 2017, Alexander Zverev upset Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open final to win his first ATP 1000 Masters title. Zverev was 20 years old at the time.

2017: Suffers elbow injury

In 2017, Djokovic suffered from an elbow injury that weakened his results.

2018: Reaction to Elbow Surgery

Following his elbow surgery in 2018, Novak Djokovic expressed feeling guilty and stated his preference for natural healing methods over surgeries or medications.

2018: 2018 Wimbledon Semifinal

In 2018, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played in the Wimbledon semifinal, contributing another classic match to their rivalry.

2018: 2018 Season Events: Australian Open, Elbow Surgery, and Return

In 2018, Novak Djokovic won the Kooyong Classic exhibition against Dominic Thiem and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open before losing to Chung Hyeon. In late January 2018, he underwent elbow surgery. He returned to practice in early March and played at Indian Wells a week later, losing in the second round. He also experienced an early loss at the Miami Open. Later in the year, reuniting with coach Marián Vajda, he showed improvement at the Madrid Masters, beating Kei Nishikori, but lost in the second round to Kyle Edmund.

2018: 2018 Rogers Cup Upset

In 2018, Stefanos Tsitsipas, then ranked No. 27, upset Novak Djokovic in three sets in the third round of the Rogers Cup. It was their first meeting.

2019: 2019 French Open Semifinal and ATP Finals

In 2019, Dominic Thiem defeated Novak Djokovic in a grueling five-set match stretched across two days in the semifinals of the French Open, ending Djokovic's quest for a second "Nole Slam". They then played in the round robin stage of the ATP Finals, which Thiem won in a deciding set tiebreaker.

2019: 2019 Madrid Open and Shanghai Masters

In 2019, Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Madrid Open, but Tsitsipas won their next match in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters.

2019: 2019 Italian Open Quarterfinal

In 2019, Novak Djokovic defeated Juan Martín del Potro in a dramatic three-setter at the Italian Open quarterfinal, saving two match points. This was their last match.

2019: 2019 Wimbledon Victory

In 2019, Novak Djokovic won the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer in five sets, marking the longest final in Wimbledon history. This victory highlighted Djokovic's dominance and resilience against Federer.

2020: 2020 Summer Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics which were held in 2021, Novak Djokovic sought a gold medal, but lost to Alexander Zverev in the semifinals and to Pablo Carreño Busta in the bronze match. In mixed doubles, partnering Nina Stojanović, they reached the semifinals but withdrew from the bronze medal match due to Djokovic's shoulder injury.

2020: 2020 Tokyo Olympics Semifinal

In 2020, Alexander Zverev defeated Novak Djokovic in the Tokyo Olympics semifinal, despite being a set and a break behind.

2020: 2020 Australian Open Final and ATP Finals Semifinal

In 2020, Novak Djokovic defeated Dominic Thiem in five sets in the Australian Open final. Later that year, Thiem won the semifinals of the ATP Finals in three sets.

2020: 2020 Season: ATP Cup Victory, Australian Open Win, and COVID-19 Diagnosis

In 2020, Novak Djokovic led Serbia to victory at the inaugural ATP Cup, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals and Rafael Nadal in the final. At the Australian Open, he defeated Dominic Thiem in the final, earning his eighth Australian Open and 17th Grand Slam title. In June 2020, during the Adria Tour he organized, Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19, along with several other participants, drawing criticism.

2020: 2020 Australian Open Major Finals Run

Novak Djokovic's run of 13 major finals, which started from the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, ended at the 2020 Australian Open. During this run, his only two losses were to Stan Wawrinka.

2021: 2021 French Open Semifinal

In 2021, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played in the French Open semifinal, continuing their tradition of intense and memorable matches.

2021: 2021 Grand Slam Finals

In 2021, Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open final and Daniil Medvedev defeated Novak Djokovic at the US Open final, also ending Djokovic's quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam.

2022: 2022 Madrid Masters Semifinals

In 2022, Carlos Alcaraz prevailed in a deciding set tiebreaker against Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Masters semifinals.

2022: Forced to skip tournaments due to vaccine opposition

In 2022, Djokovic was forced to skip many tournaments due to his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine, notably the Australian Open and the US Open.

2022: 2022: Australian Open Visa Controversy and Deportation

In 2022, Novak Djokovic's season began with controversy surrounding the Australian Open. After receiving a medical exemption to compete without vaccination due to a positive COVID-19 test on 16 December 2021, his visa was initially granted but then cancelled upon arrival in Melbourne. Following a legal battle, his visa was cancelled again by the Minister for Immigration, and he was ultimately deported from Australia on 16 January 2022.

2022: Consequences of Vaccination Stance

In 2022, Novak Djokovic's stance against the COVID-19 vaccine led to consequences such as not being able to play the 2022 Australian Open and losing the No. 1 ranking. He was also unable to enter the United States to play the 2022 US Open due to vaccination policies.

2023: Tensions During Adelaide International Final

During the final of the 2023 Adelaide International 1 – Men's singles, there were occasional tensions with his agent Edoardo Artaldi.

2023: 2023 Wimbledon and Cincinnati Masters Finals

In 2023, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in a five-set epic at the Wimbledon final, ending Djokovic's hopes for the calendar Grand Slam and his record 45-match Centre Court win streak. Djokovic then defeated Alcaraz in three tightly contested sets at the Cincinnati Masters final, which became the longest best-of-three-sets ATP Tour final and the longest match in the tournament's history.

2023: 2023 French Open Semifinal

In 2023, Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the semifinals of the French Open. The match was competitive until Alcaraz faltered at the start of the third set due to cramps from mental pressure and physical intensity.

2023: Wimbledon Final 2023

In 2023, at Wimbledon, Djokovic reached his 9th final after wins over Pedro Cachin, Thompson, Stan Wawrinka, Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, and Jannik Sinner. He lost the final to Alcaraz in five sets, ending a 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon.

2024: 2024: Wimbledon Final Defeat and Olympics Gold Medal

In 2024, Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals at the Australian Open but lost to Jannik Sinner, ending his win streak at the event. He returned to Indian Wells Masters for the first time since 2019, but lost in the third round. At the French Open, he suffered a torn medial meniscus and withdrew before the quarterfinals. At the Wimbledon Championships, Djokovic lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Djokovic won the gold medal, completing a Career Golden Slam and Career Super Slam.

2024: 2024 Summer Encounters: Wimbledon Rematch and Olympics Victory

In the summer of 2024, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in a rematch of the previous year's final. Three weeks later, Novak Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in the Olympics final held at Roland Garros, completing the career Golden Slam.

2025: 2025 Season: Australian Open Semifinal Retirement

In 2025, Novak Djokovic opened the season at the Brisbane International, losing in the quarterfinals. At the Australian Open, he reached the semifinals, marking his 430th career major main draw singles match, surpassing Roger Federer's all-time record. However, he retired in his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev due to a muscle tear.