5 Players to have beaten Novak Djokovic in straight sets in a Grand Slam final ft. Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic of Serbia is, statistically at least, the greatest tennis player of all time. He has won 24 Grand Slam titles and amassed more than 420 weeks as the World No. 1.

The 37-year-old has quite a good record in Grand Slam finals, too. He has played in a record 37 Major finals and has a 24-13 record in them. However, Djokovic has lost only five of those finals in straight sets, each time to a different player. In this article, we will take a look at those five players who have beaten the great Serb in straight sets in a slam final.

#5. Carlos Alcaraz (Wimbledon 2024):

In the just-concluded 2024 Wimbledon final, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4), displaying better shot-making in almost every respect. Alcaraz played the angles well to make the Serb stretch to either wing to win his second Wimbledon title. He also often hit the second serve with a lot of venom, allowing the Serb no breathing space.

Djokovic's ploy to rush the net often backfired during the initial phases of the match, with Alcaraz's passes getting the better of him. The Serb got his act together in the third set, but the damage was already done by then.

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#4. Daniil Medvedev (US Open 2021):

Medvedev halted Djokovic's 27-match winning run to win his maiden (and only) Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2021. The Serb was aiming to achieve the Calendar Year Grand Slam, which requires winning all four major tournaments in a single year.

However, Medvedev had other ideas and did just about enough in each set to stun the Serb 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic was visibly emotional during the match, but it was simply not his day.

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#3. Rafael Nadal (French Open 2020):

The 2020 French Open was the only edition of the tournament in which some matches were played under floodlights. The tournament was delayed owing to the COVID pandemic and was played in October. However, those changes did not deter Nadal, who went on to win his 13th title at Roland Garros by beating Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in the final.

The ball travelled slower under the heavy conditions at night, but Nadal attacked the Serb from the outset with his aggressive shot-making. He dominated the first two sets, with Djokovic putting up a fight, but still losing the third.

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#2. Andy Murray (Wimbledon 2013):

Murray is undoubtedly one of the best grass-court players of his generation, and he showed his prowess on the surface during his win over Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon 2013. The Brit won the title, beating the Serb 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in the final.

Djokovic fought reasonably well in the final, but could not do enough to get past Murray. What resulted were three well-contested sets, each of which was won by the Brit.

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#1. Roger Federer (US Open 2007)

It was one of Federer's five consecutive titles in New York from 2004 to 2008. Djokovic was only 20 then and had yet to reach his prime. However, the signs of greatness was already there and he won his maiden Grand Slam the following year at Australian Open.

Despite the first two sets being decided by tie-breaks, Federer prevailed 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 to claim his fourth US Open championship. The Swiss maestro was at his peak then, but Djokovic did not allow the former to win at a canter.