4 times Novak Djokovic has been bagelled in claycourt finals
Novak Djokovic is widely regarded as one of the best players across surfaces in the game's history.
The 34-year-old Serb has won nearly 1000 singles matches and 86 titles, which includes 20 Grand Slams, 37 Masters 1000s and five ATP Finals crowns. The World No. 1 trails only Rafael Nadal (21) in the all-time Major leaderboard, while he is one of two players to win the double Career Grand Slam. Djokovic, meanwhile, is also the all-time Masters 1000 title leader.
Djokovic, famed for his mental strength and resilience, can turn around matches from seemingly lost positions. That explains why he doesn't often get bagelled. However, in the Serbia Open final against Andrey Rublev on Sunday, the Serb lost a set 6-0 for only the 12th time in his illustrious career.
It was also only the fourth time Djokovic was bagelled in a claycourt final. On that note, here's a look at the four times the 34-year-old failed to win a game in a set in a title match on the red dirt:
#1 2022 Serbia Open Final - Novak Djokovic vs Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-0
Having won just two matches all year coming into Belgrade, Djokovic's lack of rhythm and match fitness was evident against the in-form Andrey Rublev in the final.
For the fourth time in as many matches in the Serbian capital, the 34-year-old was slow off the blocks, dropping the opening set. Djokovic regrouped in the second, taking it in a tie-break to restore parity.
However, his previous exertions took a toll on the Serb. Rublev overwhelmed Djokovic with his power in the final set to take six straight games and win his third title of the year.
Eleven La Vida Loca! 💃
The moment @AndreyRublev97 overcame Djokovic for the very first time to win the 2022 Serbia Open...
#SerbiaOpen https://t.co/9evKLyNfLD
The Serb, meanwhile, fell to 37-6 in the Serbian capital and 5-3 for the year.
#2 2020 Roland Garros Final - Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
In a brutally one-sided title match at 2020 Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal beat his arch-rival Novak Djokovic for the loss of just seven games to win a record-extending 13th title at the tournament.
There was a lot at stake when the two players locked horns in the French capital. Nadal was looking to go level with Roger Federer (20) atop the all-time Grand Slam title leaderboard. Meanwhile, Djokovic was striving to become the first male player to win the double career Grand Slam.
NADAL WINS A 13TH ROLAND-GARROS CROWN 
🏆 NADAL WINS A 13TH ROLAND-GARROS CROWN 🏆
Gigantic! Rafael Nadal claims his 20th Grand Slam title dominating an unrecognizable Novak Djokovic in final 6-0 6-2 7-5! #RolandGarros https://t.co/IgoamBG5FL
However, in a tactical masterclass, it was the Spaniard who reigned supreme on the Parisian clay on a cold October evening. Nadal bagelled Djokovic in the first set and dropped only two games in the second. The Serb offered some resistance in the third, but Nadal held firm to draw level with Federer in the Slam count.
#3 2019 Rome Final - Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic in a hard-fought Rome Masters final in 2019 to win his ninth title at the Foro Italico.
For the first time since 2004, Nadal entered the Rome Masters without a title under his belt. However, the Spaniard was quick off the blocks on his favorite surface, pummelling Djokovic with aggressive groundstrokes to take the opener without dropping a game.
The Serb began to find his mojo in the second, escaping from 3-3 0-40 on serve to break Nadal at 5-4 to force a decider. However, Djokovic ran out of steam in the decider as Nadal improved to 9-2 in Rome finals.
RAFAEL #NADAL WINS A NINTH ROME TITLE!
The drought is over! @RafaelNadal beats Novak #Djokovic 6-0 4-6 6-1 to win the Rome Masters- his first title since last August!
81st career title, 58th on clay for the King of Clay.
Bring on Roland Garros! https://t.co/9fOqirpwCQ
More interestingly, it was the first time in 142 sets between the pair that a bagel had been served up.
#4 2007 Estoril Final - Djokovic vs Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7), 0-6, 6-1
Novak Djokovic was not a Grand Slam champion when he arrived in Estoril in 2007. In fact, the then 19-year-old had won just four titles heading into the event in Portugal.
In a tough tournament opener, Djokovic needed a third-set tie-break to beat Igor Andreev. After a straight-sets win over Santiago Ventura, the young Serb was taken the distance by Guillermo-Garcia Lopez in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic beat Tommy Robredo in straight sets in the semifinals to book a final showdown with Richard Gasquet. Djokovic drew first blood in the final by winning the first-set tie-break.
However, the Frenchman served up a bagel to roar back into the contest.
Players to bagel Novak Djokovic in a clay court final:
2007 - Gasquet - Estoril
2019 - Nadal - Rome
2020 - Nadal - Roland Garros
2022 - Rublev - Belgrade
The only match Nole won was against Gasquet
#SerbiaOpen
To his credit, though, Novak Djokovic regained his mojo, dropping only one game in the decider to win his third title of the year and his first in Estoril. This was the only time the Serb came back from a bagel in a final to win.
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