5 instances when Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the same tournament
Novak Djokovic's prowess on the tennis court is simply magnificent and the Serb’s top-tier consistency has made him a mainstay in the GOAT debate for decades to come.
The 35-year-old has won 22 Grand Slams, which is the joint-most for any male player in history. He also recently broke Steffi Graf's record for the most number of weeks at World No. 1 and is currently in the midst of his 381st week as the top-ranked player in the world.
Looking at his current form and fitness, it is hard not to expect Djokovic to capture more titles in the coming days, especially with arch-rival Rafael Nadal's comeback under a massive cloud of doubt.
Since his professional debut in 2003, the 35-year-old has managed to defeat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the same tournament a total of five times. Without further ado, let's take a look at these five instances:
#1 Canadian Open 2007
In 2007, Rafael Nadal was unstoppable on the clay courts of Roland Garros while Roger Federer was dominating the grass as well as hard courts. Young Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, was still trying to get his hands on his first major title.
At the 2007 Canadian Open (known as the Rogers Cup back then), Djokovic squared off against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and beat him 7-5, 6-3 to set up a final against defending champion Roger Federer.
The title clash was sealed by Djokovic with the scoreline reading 7-6(2), 2-6, 7-6(2). Having also beaten Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals, the Serb became the first man to beat the top 3 players in the same event since Boris Becker in 1994.
#2 Indian Wells Masters 2011
Novak Djokovic entered the 2011 Indian Wells Masters with the aim of winning his second title in California.
The Serb reached the semifinals of the tournament without conceding a single set and here he was up against Roger Federer. He beat the Swiss maestro handsomely to set up a final against Rafael Nadal.
Facing the Spaniard, Djokovic lost the first set 6-4. However, making a brilliant comeback, he won the final two sets 6-3, 6-2 to secure his second Indian Wells Masters title.
#3 US Open 2011
After winning the 2011 Indian Wells Masters in March, Novak Djokovic squared off against his fellow Big-3 mates in a similar fashion at that year’s US Open.In the semi-finals, Roger Federer locked horns against Novak Djokovic, where the Serb beat him in five sets after saving multiple match points.
The final was thus set between Djokovic and defending champion Nadal, which was a replay of the 2010 final. This time, the Serb came out on top, winning 6–2, 6–4, 6–7(3), 6–1 to win his maiden US Open crown.
#4 ATP Finals 2013
Topping Group B consisting of Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet, and Juan Martin del Potro with three straight wins, Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the 2013 ATP Finals.
In the semi-finals, Djokovic took down Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-3 to set up a final against Rafael Nadal, who defeated Swiss maestro Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3 in the last-4 fixture.
The Serb had an upper hand over the Spaniard in the final, as the latter looked puzzled throughout the match. Djokovic eventually won 6-3, 6-4 to successfully defend his title at the Year-end Championship.
#5 ATP Finals 2015
At the 2015 ATP Finals, the Serb was drawn into Group B with the likes of Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, and Tomas Berdych. Interestingly, Djokovic started his campaign with a loss against Federer.
However, with wins over the other group members, the 22-time Grand Slam champion managed to reach the semifinals, where he faced his arch-rival Rafael Nadal.
In the last four, Djokovic scored a straightforward win over the Spaniard and booked his berth in the final. Facing the Swiss for the second time in the same competition, Novak turned the tables on him in the final by defeating the 20-time Grand Slam champion 6-3, 6-4.