Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic fulfilled a dream this summer, the latest in a record-breaking career that stretches back more than 20 years. Just eight months after making history with his seventh ATP Finals victory, he scooped his first Olympic gold at the Paris Games. The win means Djokovic is finally an Olympic champion like rival Rafael Nadal, who won a singles gold in Beijing in 2008 and a doubles gold at Rio 2016.
The Paris win is a career highlight of 2024, which followed AFP had called an "incredible" 2023, in which Djokovic won three Grand Slam titles, including the Australian Open, for a men's record of 24 and also finished "on top of the year-end world rankings for the eighth time". But while he reached eight finals in 2023, this year has seen him struggle. His form "has dramatically dropped off", Sky Sports reported, with the ace failing to reach any final before this year's Wimbledon – even then he was "fortunate" with the draw. In the end, he lost 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.
But Djokovic got his revenge in the French capital a few weeks later, turning the tables to beat the Spaniard 7-6, 7-6 and win the coveted gold. It was, he said "arguably the biggest success I ever had", while former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe told Eurosport the victory showed you could never "count him out".
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However, speaking on ESPN, McEnroe noted that 2024 has been the first year since 2002 that no Grand Slam titles were won by Nadal, Djokovic or Roger Federer, a moment he called a "changing of the guard" in highest echelon of men's tennis, said the Daily Mail.
Grand slam wins and big titles
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
(Image credit: Scott Barbour/Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Tennis fans will argue for hours debating the following question: who is the "goat" in men's tennis? Icons such as McEnroe, Björn Borg, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors get a special mention in the greatest of all time discussion, but for many people it's a choice of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer.
After winning the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has 24 grand slam titles – two more than Nadal – while his Olympic triumph gives him a career "Golden Slam". Following his retirement in September 2022, Federer finished his career with 20 majors.
Djokovic has dominated on Melbourne's hard courts with 10 of his 24 slams coming in Australia. Nadal is the all-time "king of clay" with 14 French Open victories out of his 22. Eight of Federer's 20 wins came on grass at Wimbledon.
Most grand slam men’s singles titles (all-time)
Novak Djokovic: 24
Rafael Nadal: 22
Roger Federer: 20
Pete Sampras: 14
Roy Emerson: 12
Big titles won (records since 1990)
In terms of big titles – a trophy at a grand slam championship, the ATP Finals, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament or an Olympic singles gold medal – Djokovic leads the way with 72 after his Olympic gold at Paris. Nadal has 59 while Federer won 54.
Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals
(Image credit: Giampiero Sposito/Getty Images)
Nationality: Serbian
Age: 37
World ranking: 4
Career titles: 98
Grand slam titles: 24 - Australian Open (10): 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 - French Open (3): 2016, 2021, 2023 - Wimbledon (7): 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 - US Open (4): 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023
Big titles: 72 - 24 grand slams and one Olympics gold medal - 7 ATP finals - 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles
Olympic medals: singles bronze at Beijing 2008; gold at Paris 2024
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal won his 14th French Open title in 2022
(Image credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Nationality: Spanish
Age: 38
World ranking: 154
Career titles: 92
Grand slam titles: 22 - Australian Open (2): 2009, 2022 - French Open (14): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 - Wimbledon (2): 2008, 2010 - US Open (4): 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019
Big titles: 59 - 22 grand slams - 36 ATP Masters 1000 titles - 1 Olympics singles
Olympic medals: singles gold at Beijing 2008; men’s doubles gold at Rio 2016
2024 grand slam champions
Australian Open
When: 14-28 January 2024
Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
2024 women's singles champion: Aryna Sabalenka
2024 men's singles champion: Jannik Sinner
French Open
When: 26 May-9 June 2024
Where: Stade Roland-Garros, Paris, France
2024 women's singles champion: Iga Świątek
2024 men's singles champion: Carlos Alcaraz
The Championships Wimbledon
When: 1-14 July 2024
Where: All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, London, England
2024 women's singles champion: Barbora Krejčíková
2024 men's singles champion: Carlos Alcaraz
US Open
When: 26 August-8 September 2024
Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, US
2024 women's singles champion: Aryna Sabalenka
2024 men's singles champion: Jannik Sinner
Djokovic vs. Nadal: the rivalry and head-to-head record
Nadal and Djokovic have battled more times in their rivalry than any players in history, ATPTour.com said. The duo have faced each other 18 times at a grand slam: three times at Wimbledon, three times at the US Open, twice at the Australian Open and ten times at the French Open. Djokovic leads the overall head-to-head 30-29, but Nadal has an 11-7 lead in grand slam matches against his rival.
Head-to-head
Career matches played: 59
Wins: Djokovic 30, Nadal 29
Wins on clay: Nadal 20, Djokovic 9
Wins at grand slams: Nadal 11, Djokovic 7
Previous matches at Wimbledon
2018 semi-final: Djokovic won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8
2011 final: Djokovic won 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
2007 semi-final: Nadal won 3-6, 6-1, 4-1 (Djokovic retired)
Previous matches at the US Open
2013 final: Nadal won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2011 final: Djokovic won 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
2010 final: Nadal won 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Previous matches at the Australian Open
2019 final: Djokovic won 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
2012 final: Djokovic won 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
Previous matches at Roland-Garros
Wins at Roland-Garros: Nadal 8, Djokovic 2
2022 quarter-final: Nadal won 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
2021 semi-final: Djokovic won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2
2020 final: Nadal won 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
2015 quarter-final: Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
2014 final: Nadal won 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
2013 semi-final: Nadal won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(3), 9-7
2012 final: Nadal won 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
2008 semi-final: Nadal won 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(3)
2007 semi-final: Nadal won 7-5, 6-4, 6-2
2006 quarter-final: Nadal won 6-4, 6-4 (Djokovic retired)
Roger Federer's career statistics
Roger Federer won Wimbledon eight times
(Image credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Nationality: Swiss
Career titles: 103
Grand slam titles: 20 - Australian Open (6): 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018 - French Open (1): 2009 - Wimbledon (8): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017 - US Open (5): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Big titles: 54 - 20 grand slams - 6 ATP Finals - 28 ATP Masters 1000 titles
Olympic medals: singles silver at London 2012; men’s doubles gold at Beijing 2008
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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
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