Serbia’s Novak Djokovic aims to clinch a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title as he begins his campaign at the Australian Open on Monday.
Seeded seventh in the 2025 edition, the 37-year-old will be facing American teen Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round.
The Slam Down Under has been a personal favourite for Djokovic, given that he has won 10 Australian Open titles – the most by any man in the Open era.
Sportstar turns back the clock and takes a look at all 10 successful campaigns of Djokovic at the Australian Open:
Djokovic won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2008.
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AP
Djokovic won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2008.
| Photo Credit:
AP
2008 – It was the Australian Open 2008 where Djokovic won his maiden Grand Slam title. He beat David Ferrer in the quarterfinals, before meeting an on-song Roger Federer, who had started the season after winning three of the four Slams in 2007. Djokovic triumphed over the Swiss player in straight sets and then staged a comeback win in the final to beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Djokovic ended a two-year drought at the Slams by beating Andy Murray, his current coach, to win the Australian Open in 2011.
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AP
Djokovic ended a two-year drought at the Slams by beating Andy Murray, his current coach, to win the Australian Open in 2011.
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AP
2011 – After winning the Major in Melbourne in 2008, Djokovic had a two-year drought at the Slams. He finally ended it when he won his second Australian Open title after beating the then defending champion, Federer, in the semis before easing past Andy Murray, his current coach, in the final.
Djokovic poses for a photo with the clock showing the match time after beating Rafael Nadal in the 2012 final, the longest fixture in Australian Open’s history.
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AP
Djokovic poses for a photo with the clock showing the match time after beating Rafael Nadal in the 2012 final, the longest fixture in Australian Open’s history.
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AP
2012 – Djokovic defended his title after facing a defiant Rafael Nadal in the summit clash. It was the Spaniard who clinched the first set, before the Serb went on to take a 2-1 lead. However, Nadal bounced back and took the clash to a decider. The match – the longest in Australian Open history – saw Djokovic come out on top with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 scoreline.
Djokovic clinched his third straight Australian Open title in 2013.
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AP
Djokovic clinched his third straight Australian Open title in 2013.
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AP
2013 – Djokovic completed the three-peat in Melbourne in 2013. Once again, he met Murray in the final. The scot defeated Federer in a five-set semifinal clash. On the other hand, Djokovic was barely challenged by Ferrer in the other semifinal. In the summit clash, Murray drew first blood before Djokovic clinched the next three sets to win a third-consecutive title Down Under.
Djokovic grabbed his fifth title in Melbourne in 2015 with victory over Murray in the summit clash.
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AP
Djokovic grabbed his fifth title in Melbourne in 2015 with victory over Murray in the summit clash.
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AP
2015 – Djokovic reached the final of all four Slams for the first time in 2015 and won three of them. The tenacious Serbian faced a tough test from Swiss Stan Wawrinka in a five-setter in the semifinal. But the fitness that has been synonymous with Djokovic’s work-rate showed in the final set when he blanked Wawrinka 6-0. He then faced Murray for the third time in the final and beat him in four sets.
Djokovic beat Murray for the fourth time in an Australian Open final in 2016.
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GETTY IMAGES
Djokovic beat Murray for the fourth time in an Australian Open final in 2016.
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GETTY IMAGES
2016 – Another year. Another Djokovic vs Murray final. And the script remained the same as the Serbian beat the Scot, this time in straight sets, to win the title.
In 2019, Djokovic went past the fourth round at the Australian Open for the first time in three years. He eventually went on to win his seventh title in Melbourne after defeating Nadal in the final.
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AP
In 2019, Djokovic went past the fourth round at the Australian Open for the first time in three years. He eventually went on to win his seventh title in Melbourne after defeating Nadal in the final.
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AP
2019 – Djokovic made the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016 – the last time he’d won the title. In the quarterfinals, Japan’s Kei Nishikori retired hurt in the second set to send the Serb into the semis. Then, he eased past Frenchman Lucas Pouille before handing a straight-sets defeat to Nadal in the final. Djokovic broke Federer’s record of most men’s singles titles (6) in Melbourne with this victory.
Djokovic won his eighth title in Melbourne after beating Dominic Thiem in a five-setter in the final in 2020.
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GETTY IMAGES
Djokovic won his eighth title in Melbourne after beating Dominic Thiem in a five-setter in the final in 2020.
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GETTY IMAGES
2020 – Both Djokovic and Dominic Thiem were in great form leading up to the final. While the Austrian player beat the likes of Nadal and Alexander Zverev in four-setters, Djokovic overcame Milos Raonic and Federer in straight sets. The final was a cracking contest, with the Serb taking the lead before Thiem clawing his way back to win the next two sets. However, Djokovic came from behind to clinch his eighth title, beating Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to win his ninth Australian Open title in 2021.
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REUTERS
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to win his ninth Australian Open title in 2021.
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REUTERS
2021 – Djokovic completed another three-peat in Melbourne. He faced Daniil Medvedev in the final. The Russian was in the contest before losing a tight opening set. From there on, Djokovic barely allowed his opponent to get points on the board to confirm a third consecutive title, with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 scoreline.
Djokovic won his 10th Australian Open and overall, 22nd Major in 2023 with a straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the summit clash.
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REUTERS
Djokovic won his 10th Australian Open and overall, 22nd Major in 2023 with a straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the summit clash.
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REUTERS
2023 – Djokovic’s 10th title in Melbourne was an emotional one as he had been deported from Australian on the eve of the previous edition for being unvaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) to clinch his 22nd Grand Slam title and equal Nadal’s record of most Majors won by a man.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com