A Look Back at Novak Djokovic’s Legendary Australian Open Wins

The 24-time Grand Slam champion won ten Australian Open titles as he dominated the opening major of the year for much of the past 15 years

Djokovic, Australian Open – © Panoramic

Nedim Jamak (Guest)

January 31, 2025

Novak Djokovic is considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. His career stats are unbelievable, especially on hard courts, and especially at the Australian Open.

His first Grand Slam title was back in 2008, and by 2023, he had reached 10 Australian Open titles. Overall, he has claimed an impressive 99 singles titles and judging by his current form, the 100th is just around the corner.

Despite delivering his best tennis performances in Australia, it seems Djokovic will never be fully accepted as the champion he truly is. We saw it at this year’s tournament when he was booed after retiring from his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev. Back in 2022, he was prevented from participating after he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Let us remind you that Djokovic’s most iconic Australian Open matches against tennis legends are considered some of the best in tennis history. The first to remember is a match against Rafael Nadal in 2012. After five hours and 53 minutes, Djokovic was better, and this match remains the longest match in
Grand Slam finals history to this day.

The Beginning of a Legacy: Djokovic’s First Australian Open Win

Djokovic turned pro in 2003 but had to wait until 2008 for his first Grand Slam, the Australian Open. He entered the tournament as the third seed and reached the final, where he faced Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was playing the best tournament of his career.

The Frenchman defeated Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal on his journey to the final, while Novak, in an epic match, defeated Roger Federer. Djokovic played an incredible match in the final too and won in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6) to claim his first Grand Slam title. He became the first Serbian tennis player to win a major trophy.

The Evolution of Greatness: Key Victories Over the Years

Novak Djokovic’s Melbourne dominance began from that moment. His playing style proved to be legendary at the Australian Open, and whenever it mattered most, he delivered his best performance. Among other reasons, this is the reason he is considered the GOAT of tennis.

Djokovic vs. Nadal, final 2012: This is probably one of the best matches in tennis history. It was a true marathon between tennis legends, lasting 5 hours and 53 minutes. Djokovic won the trophy after 5 sets, and to this day, this is the longest match in Grand Slam finals history.
Djokovic vs Murray, semifinal 2012: A true test before the final, and the big question is how Novak found the energy to play in the final after this. He won against his current coach after 5 incredible sets. The same year, Andy was a winner in their clash at the Olympic Games.
Djokovic vs Wawrinka, 4th round 2013: This match is considered one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history. Stan led 6-1 and 5-2 in the second set, but Novak showed his incredible mental power and took a win after five phenomenal sets.
Djokovic vs Thiem, final 2020: Another clash of the titans, where the best male tennis player of all time showed a true rollercoaster of emotions. Novak fought against Dominic and the audience together and lifted a trophy after 5 sets.

One of the most impressive tennis records has been set at the Australian Open, but Novak is not a favourite player of the audience, and they are not hiding it. However, Novak Djokovic’s playing style is almost unbeatable in Melbourne, and that tournament is one of the key reasons why he is one of the best tennis players of all time.

Breaking Records

He made his debut at the Australian Open in 2005, and after 19 tournaments, he has an incredible score of 94 wins and 9 losses. This journey has been one of the most dominant tennis records in history, and he is by far the most decorated player in the Australian Open history.

His most recent appearance was in 2025. This time, despite being the underdog, he managed to win a battle against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final, injury prevented him from continuing the match against Alexander Zverev. That was possibly his final realistic chance to lift the trophy again.

Secrets to His Success

Whether you love him or not, Novak has always been a true example of a sportsman on the court. His physical and mental preparation is something that we haven’t seen before. When he was most exhausted, we could still witness some of the hardest possible shots. Djokovic’s playing style has always been adaptive, but he was the biggest force on the grass and hard court tournaments.

The future of tennis is bright, and Djokovic is the only remaining player of the Big Three era. At the start of 2025, his new head coach is his former rival, Andy Murray. Can these champions produce one more miracle together? Can they uncover new qualities in Novak’s game, is it even possible?

The Impact of Djokovic’s Success on Tennis and Beyond

Novak Djokovic’s tennis legacy is still unmatched. He and his greatest rivals have made a huge contribution to tennis, and sports in general. A far bigger number of sponsors are appearing at smaller tournaments, and it seems that the fastest-growing ones are in Australia, the United States, and Canada.

Tennis has been attracting some of the biggest sponsors including global brands like Lacoste or Rolex backing some of the biggest names in the sport. As one of the tennis greats, Novak Djokovic is no exception to some of the major sponsorship brands including Lacoste, Hublot, and Head. These sponsorships are what helped Novak reach where he is now in his career.

Next to player sponsorships, the tennis world is filled with different sponsors making tournaments and competitions happen. A growing industry in the world of sponsors is the casino industry. This means that banners showing you, for example, some fast payout casinos in Canada, might be seen on and off the courts at some times.

Rolex, for example, is a long-time sponsor of Wimbledon, the ATP Finals tournament, and the Australian Open, which we are sure you have seen all the banners across the court. Nike, Adidas, and Wilson are some of the big names in the sports and sponsorship world as well.

Djokovic’s impact on the sport extends beyond sponsorships and his tennis records. His approach to tennis, his high standards of professionalism, and his humor show a great love for the sport. This has inspired new generations and made tennis more attractive to many.

Just one example of his off-court impact is the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which focuses on improving childhood education in Serbia. His success with the foundation has contributed to building and renovating numerous schools giving children better educational opportunities.

What’s Next for Djokovic at the Australian Open?

It’s hard to imagine that the best tennis players of our generation are finishing their careers. Novak is considered the GOAT of tennis, but can he produce one more Grand Slam title? If he can do it, he will become the oldest Grand Slam winner in tennis history.

As it looks right now, Novak Djokovic will compete at the Australian Open next year. Despite facing several injuries, Novak is always the most dangerous opponent, especially on the Australian Open courts. Djokovic will retire as the most successful player in tournament history, and his tennis legacy could be unmatched for many more years.