Will Djokovic Beat Federer’s Grand Slam Record?
Novak Djokovic is on fire after just beating Roger Federer in the latest Wimbledon finals. In a stadium cheering for the Swiss, Djokovic still managed to capture his fifth title on Centre Court. With his latest win, the Serb is just a few titles away from overtaking Federer and being the most successful tennis player in the world. So, let’s have a look at whether the 32-year-old tennis star can beat Roger Federer’s Grand Slam Record in the near future.
The numbers game
With the latest turnout, Novak Djokovic now has 16 titles and is only four Grand Slam titles away from closing in on Federer, who has 20. Rafael Nadal, Federer’s other long-time rival, has 18 titles. Federer is the only man who’s beaten Djokovic in all four majors, and likewise, Djokovic is the only man to have beaten Federer in all four majors.
Moreover, Djokovic is the only player among the triumvirate (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic) who has a positive head-to-head record against the other two. Djokovic has a 25-22 record against Federer, which is 9-6 in Grand Slams. Against Nadal, he has a 28-25 record including 10-10 in Grand Slams. Djokovic is also one of the few who’s beaten Rafael Nadal in the French Open, something Federer has been unable to do. His performances against these two only goes to show how exceptional a tennis player he truly is. With his superior head-to-head record with his opponents and with him leading the Grand Slam finals race, it won’t be long until he overtakes Federer’s record.
Inching towards his dreams
Roger Federer is the most successful player in tennis’ history through his titles and endorsements. Alongside his record haul of Grand Slam titles is the honour of holding the world number 1 spot for the longest consecutive time. Ladbrokes lists Federer as the highest paid tennis star in the world due to the numerous endorsements he has had with huge brands such as Rolex, Nike, and Wilson. His deluge of endorsements only goes to show that in the eyes of the mainstream media, Federer still reigns supreme. This is a notion Djokovic is hoping to change.
After his recent Wimbledon win against Federer, Djokovic told The Guardian, “Roger hopes to inspire people to keep going at 37, I’m one of them. The fact that they have made history of this sport motivates me as well, inspires me to try to do what they have done, what they’ve achieved, and even more.” This ominous warning against his great rival is also a nod to Federer’s age. With the Serb being five years younger than Federer, Djokovic has more time to prove himself in the history books through surpassing Federer’s record.
Djokovic also shared that while the audience was cheering Roger Federer’s name during this year’s Wimbledon finals, he would hardwire his brain to hear “Novak” being cheered instead. With momentum on his side and the numbers so close, there’s no doubt that Novak Djokovic will surpass Federer’s Grand Slam record in the near future.