Seven up! Djokovic’s previous Wimbledon wins
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Novak Djokovic is bidding for his eighth Wimbledon title and is once again the man to beat at the All England Club this year.
The Serbian matched Pete Sampras’ total by making it four consecutive triumphs last year and it is a brave punter that takes him on this year, with Djokovic odds-on in the Wimbledon men’s winner odds.
With his latest campaign under way, we take a look at the previous seven Djokovic wins at Wimbledon.
2011 – 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 vs Rafael Nadal
The first of the Djokovic wins at Wimbledon brought the dominance of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on grass to an end. It was the first time since 2002 that one of them had not lifted silverware at the All England Club.
Djokovic blasted away the Spaniard in the opening two sets and survived a mini-wobble to earn his third major and climb to number one in the rankings for the first time.
2014 – 6-7 (7) 6-4 7-6 (4) 5-7 6-4 vs Roger Federer
Centre Court witnessed an epic as Djokovic was able to recover from a collapse in the fourth set to hit back and beat Federer in five. He was 5-2 up and a game away from a seventh grand slam before Federer produced a remarkable comeback, saving a championship point and forcing a decider.
There would be no denying the then 27-year-old though, who broke in the 10th game and celebrated by eating some of the grass.
2015 – 7-6 (1) 6-7 (10) 6-4 6-3 vs Roger Federer
Djokovic made it back-to-back Wimbledon wins with another close encounter against the Swiss great. The Serbian showed his frustration after Federer levelled up during a second tie-break of the match but regained his composure to secure a second consecutive title in two hours and 56 minutes before again sampling the grass.
“It tasted very, very good this year,” Djokovic said. “I don’t know what the grounds people have done but they’ve done a good job. It’s a little tradition.”
2018 – 6-2 6-2 7-6 (3) vs Kevin Anderson
After more than two years without a grand slam, Djokovic returned to winning ways in a final which took place two days after an extraordinary clash with Nadal. A dramatic five-setter in the last four was worthy of a final and this felt ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’.
It did not bother the 12th seed who was a class above South African Kevin Anderson – off the back of his own remarkable semi-final with John Isner where he won the fifth set 26-24 – and earned a first title at any level for 12 months.
2019 – 7-6 (5) 1-6 7-6 (4) 4-6 13-12 (3) vs Roger Federer
History was made in Djokovic’s fifth win at Wimbledon as he edged Federer in a near five-hour classic. It was the first year where the last set tie-break rule had been introduced but it was not required until the final.
In it Djokovic saved two championship points at 7-8 down before he hit back and a tie-break was used to separate the pair. It ended up being the longest singles final in Wimbledon history and was the first major final to feature a last set championship-deciding tie-break.
2021 – 6-7 (4) 6-4 6-4 6-3 vs Matteo Berrettini
Djokovic had seemed untouchable throughout the championships, with British youngster Jack Draper the only player to take a set off the world number one prior to the final.
When big-serving Italian Berrettini did the same in the opener, an upset looked a possibility but the quality of the Serbian came to the fore and Djokovic won a sixth title at the All England Club to draw level with Federer and Nadal on 20 grand slam wins.
2022 – 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (3) vs Nick Kyrgios
Djokovic maintained his stranglehold on Wimbledon by beating a frustrated Kyrgios to win a fourth consecutive title on Centre Court.
It had been a difficult season for Djokovic but he was once again able to rely on the lawns of Wimbledon to bring the best out of him. Kyrgios took the opening set but the Australian struggled to keep his cool as his opponent began to dominate and Djokovic raised his arms aloft after securing victory in four sets.
