Novak Djokovic's five best Australian Open matches of all-time

Since securing his first Australian Open title in 2008, Novak Djokovic has established nearly twenty years of supremacy in Melbourne. He has remained unparalleled in this tournament, triumphing in all ten finals played at this location. The Serb has a 99-10 record in Australia, his best performance at a Grand Slam. 

Novak Djokovic has been part of many iconic battles over the years, proving why he is one of the greatest players to grace the sport. These five matches are a glimpse of the extraordinary encounters he has treated the spectators to.    

Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray – Australian Open 2012 Semi-final

The 2012 Australian Open semi-finals was the closest Andy Murray came to defeating Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. The five-set encounter saw Murray take a two-set to one lead over the Serb, denting Djokovic’s aura of invincibility at the venue. However, Djokovic mounted a remarkable comeback, ultimately securing victory with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(4-7), 6-1, 7-5 after nearly five hours of competition.

It was the second meeting at a Grand Slam venue. The duo previously clashed in the finals in Melbourne the year prior. In a remarkable turn of events, Murray triumphed over the Serbian player in the finals of the 2012 US Open, securing his inaugural major title.

Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal – Australian Open 2012 Final

The 2012 Australian Open final could be billed as one of the greatest matches played out in Melbourne. The contest between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal extended over a duration of 5 hours and 53 minutes, making it the longest Grand Slam final in history.

Djokovic ultimately secured his third consecutive Grand Slam title, concluding the match with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5. With his victory over the Spanish player, Djokovic distinguished himself as only the fifth man in the Open Era, which began in 1968, to achieve the remarkable feat of winning three major tournaments in succession, joining the ranks of Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Nadal.

Novak Djokovic vs Stan Wawrinka – Australian Open 2013 Fourth Round

The fourth round of the 2013 Australian Open, featuring a match between Djokovic and Wawrinka was worthy of a final. The encounter resembled a fierce battle rather than a traditional tennis match. After suffering a defeat in the first set, 1-6, the Serbian player rallied to secure victories in the subsequent two sets. However, Wawrinka demonstrated remarkable resilience by winning the fourth set, thereby necessitating a decisive final set.

Wawrinka missed a crucial chance in the second set when he held a 5-2 lead, allowing Djokovic to re-enter the contest. The final set proved to be thrilling, ultimately secured by Djokovic. The match, lasting five hours, ended with a score of 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 12-10.

Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem – Australian Open 2020 Final

The final match of the 2020 Australian Open featured yet another intense five-set encounter with Novak Djokovic at the center of the action. His challenger, Austrian Dominic Thiem, displayed remarkable resilience and determination throughout the match. Djokovic was compelled to summon all his strength to retain his title, ultimately prevailing with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. This grueling battle lasted four hours and marked Djokovic's eighth triumph at the Australian Open.

Thiem pushed Djokovic to the brink, taking a two-set-to-one lead. The Serb, doing what he does best, rallied back by playing some of his best tennis to deny Thiem victory in Melbourne. It was Djokovic’s 17th Grand Slam title.  

Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz – Australian Open 2025 Quarter-final

It’s not often that Djokovic finds himself down, especially at an event he has dominated for years. Yet, that is the position he found himself in. The Serbian player, who was seeded seventh, faced off against third-seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

The challenges were significant for Djokovic, having suffered defeats in two prior Grand Slam matches against the Spaniard. Alcaraz triumphed over Djokovic at Wimbledon in both 2023 and 2024, securing consecutive titles at SW19. Although it appeared that a familiar narrative was unfolding when Alcaraz claimed the first set, Djokovic reversed the situation to achieve a victory with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Cover Credits - ATP Tour