Novak Djokovic has been probably the most constant participant at Majors since 2011. The Serb has earned many notable information on the most notable tennis occasions, proudly proudly owning 24 Main crowns from 37 finals! Djokovic claimed three Main trophies from 4 finals in 2023.
Thus, Novak terminated the GOAT race and missed an opportunity to increase his tally in 2024. Djokovic’s solely aim within the season behind us was to say an elusive Olympic Video games gold medal. The veteran achieved that in Paris, beating six rivals in straight units and writing historical past books.
Novak will chase Main crowns once more in 2025, highlighting them as his principal focus within the upcoming season. The Serb embraced a 16-3 rating on the top-tier stage in 2024, which might not be sufficient for his excessive requirements in another season.
Djokovic wrapped up a yr and not using a Main crown for the primary time since 2017. He’ll attempt to change that in 2025, believing in his tennis and warning Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Novak confronted solely two top-10 rivals at Majors in 2024 and misplaced.
He gave a walkover to Casper Ruud at Rokland Garros and obtained one from Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon. Like in 2022 when he missed two Main tournaments, Djokovic didn’t rating a top-10 victory on probably the most notable stage.
That is the record of Novak’s top-5 best triumphs at Majors in 2024.
Novak Djokovic is a #Wimbledon finalist as soon as once more 🇷🇸
The 7-time champion defeats Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Gx6pwb39DH
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2024
No. 5 – vs. Francisco Cerundolo at Roland Garros
Novak’s fifth most spectacular victory of the season got here within the fourth spherical at Roland Garros. The Serb confronted Francisco Cerundolo on Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier and defeated world no. 27 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in 4 hours and 39 minutes!
A few days earlier, the veteran overcame Lorenzo Musetti conflict after two and a half hours. Djokovic struggled with knee ache, and issues didn’t enhance towards the Argentine. Cerundolo took cost in units two, three and 4, transferring nearer to a stunner.
Nonetheless, Novak overcame a 4-2 deficit within the fourth set and recovered following nasty falls. Djokovic stole the set and sealed the deal within the decider, incomes one other spectacular victory whereas enjoying miles under his finest. The defending champion confronted 19 break factors.
He did a wonderful job and saved 15. 4 breaks weren’t sufficient for Francisco to emerge on the high. He wasted that lead within the fourth set and suffered six breaks, two within the decider. Regardless of Djokovic’s battle, it was a high-quality conflict.
They fired 120 winners and 80 unforced errors. World no. 27 embraced 70 winners and 40 unforced errors. Nonetheless, Novak brought on over 70 pressured errors from his opponent and earned the win in that section. The Serb solid the benefit within the shortest exchanges.
It was the essential ingredient of his victory, with nothing separating them within the mid-range and most prolonged ones. Novak claimed the opener in 39 minutes with a double break. He began feeling ache early within the second set and survived a few difficult video games.
Cerundolo served nicely and produced a break within the twelfth recreation to stage the general rating. Francisco supplied extra comfy holds within the third set and solid an early benefit with a break in recreation two. The Argentine held in recreation 9 for 6-3, transferring nearer to the end line.
Novak stood powerless on the return within the first half of the fourth set. He misplaced serve within the fifth recreation to maneuver nearer to the end line. Djokovic recovered his recreation and motion. He broke again within the eighth recreation and secured one other return recreation at 6-5 to drive a decider.
They traded early breaks within the last set earlier than Novak rattled off the ultimate three video games for a powerful victory and a spot within the quarter-final. A day later, Djokovic withdrew from Roland Garros and underwent knee surgical procedure.
Right here. They. Come.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz enter Centre Courtroom for the 2024 gents’s singles last 🤩#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/iZaA009DQ8
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
No. 4 – vs. Lorenzo Musetti at Wimbledon
Novak recovered within the upcoming weeks and reached his thirty seventh Main last at Wimbledon. Djokovic confronted world no. 25 Lorenzo Musetti and scored a 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and 48 minutes. Novak performed aggressive tennis and rushed to the online over 50 instances.
Each gamers struggled behind the second serve, and the Serb made the distinction behind the primary. The veteran performed towards 4 break factors and dropped serve two instances. The Italian couldn’t observe that tempo, dealing with 13 break factors and giving serve away 4 instances.
Djokovic constructed the benefit within the shortest exchanges, retaining the factors on his racquet and taking cost within the pivotal moments. Novak secured the primary break of the match within the sixth recreation of the opener. He held with a service winner for 5-2 and served for the opener in recreation 9.
The legend wasted two set factors and acquired damaged after Musetti’s forehand down the road winner. Djokovic stayed targeted and created three set factors on the return in recreation ten after Musetti’s double fault. Novak seized the second for 6-4 in 48 minutes.
Lorenzo broke at the start of the second set and led 3-1. The Italian acquired damaged at love within the sixth recreation after the Serb’s return winner, bringing world no. 2 again to 3-3. They served nicely within the subsequent 5 video games, with Djokovic main 6-5.
The Serb created a set level within the twelfth recreation, and his rival erased it with a pressured error. The set went right into a tie break, and Novak introduced two mini-breaks for 3-0. The veteran landed a smash winner at 6-2, opening two units to like benefit after an hour and 57 minutes.
Djokovic broke within the first recreation of the third set and supplied 4 comfy holds for 5-3. He generated three match factors on the return within the ninth recreation, and Lorenzo denied them with nice hitting. The Italian took 5 straight factors and prolonged the battle.
Musetti created a break likelihood at 4-5 with a return winner. Novak saved it with a pressured error and seized the fourth match level to ebook a spot in his tenth Wimbledon last.
No. 3 – vs. Adrian Mannarino on the Australian Open
Djokovic’s third-finest Main win of the season got here towards world no. 19 Adrian Mannarino in Melbourne. Novak ousted Adrian 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 within the Australian Open fourth spherical, crusing into the final 4. The Serb sealed the deal in an hour and 44 minutes and wrote historical past books.
Djokovic collected his 58th Main quarter-final, matching Roger Federer’s report. Mannarino wanted three five-setters to achieve the final 16. He misplaced steam and stood no likelihood towards the ten-time winner. Novak claimed the opening 13 video games and moved excessive in model.
The Serb fired 17 aces and defended three break factors within the opening two units en path to a double bagel. World no. 1 stole 57% of the return factors and supplied seven breaks from 11 alternatives. Novak claimed twice as many factors as his rival.
He dominated the shortest and extra superior exchanges to seal the deal in model. Djokovic hit 30 winners and stayed away from unforced errors, retaining the strain on the opposite aspect. The Serb was off to a shaky begin, dealing with two break factors within the first recreation of the match.
Novak saved them with service winners and took cost, taking all six video games and wrapping up the opener in 33 minutes. Nothing modified within the second set, with Djokovic dominating on serve and return. He earned one other bagel and moved nearer to the end line after 67 minutes!
Mannarino raised his stage on serve within the third set. He suffered a break within the fourth recreation however clinched three video games, avoiding a uncommon triple bagel! Novak served for the win at 5-3 and held at love, crusing into the quarter-final.
