Rivalries Of 2015: Djokovic vs. Federer

ATP World Tour Season In Review: Best Rivalries

Continuing our Season In Review series, ATPWorldTour.com revisits the fiercest rivalries of 2015. Today we feature Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer:

Was there more compelling marquee match-up in 2015 than Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer, the Hall of Fame-caliber clash of titans? It seems there’s always so much on the line when these two face together, and the longtime foes battled it out in no less than SEVEN finals on the year.

“I think it’s really become a very nice rivalry,” noted Federer. “It seems people like the way we play against each other. I don’t think we have to adjust our games very much against each other. We can just play our game, and then the better man wins. It’s been nice seeing Novak’s improvements over all these years. He’s become such an unbelievable player, especially the last five, six years, and he’s cleaned up his game so nicely and became the best mover in the game. It’s really a pleasure playing against him every single time.”

“We always make each other play our best tennis,” Djokovic concurred. “We require from each other the maximum focus and commitment, and that’s what raises the quality of the match. That’s why he’s who he is.”

Federer once dominated the Swiss-Serb encounter. In fact, he won seven of their first 10 meetings. But after claiming five of eight matches against Federer in 2015, including title matches at Wimbledon, the US Open finals and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, as well as ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Rome, the FedEx ATP Head2Head now stands at an even 22-22. To think that when they first faced each other in Monaco back in 2006, a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 Round of 64 decision in Federer’s favor, Djokovic was still somewhat of an unknown commodity. After that first encounter, Federer asserted, “I mean, he was all right from the baseline and everything. I think he’s still got many areas where he can improve, so there is some potential.”

Potential? You got that right.

Though Federer would strike first with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the Dubai final, Djokovic would reel off three straight trophy-clinching wins in Indian Wells (6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2), Rome (6-4, 6-3) and Wimbledon (7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3), where for a second straight year he would get the better of the seven-time champion. In doing so, he became the first player since the Swiss in 2007 to successfully defend his title at the All England Club.

Federer would bounce back in Cincinnati with an aggressive 7-6(1), 6-3 win over Djokovic, who was bidding to complete a Career Golden Masters. It was his seventh ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, proving that at he’s far from finished.

“He’s just not going away,” said Djokovic of his 34-year-old opponent. “He’s not dropping his level too much. He’s always going to be out there making you play your best if you want to win. So that’s who Roger is. That’s why he has won so many Grand Slam titles.”

For the second time in his career, Djokovic would win his third major of the year at the US Open, this one at the expense of Federer under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. The win put the World No. 1 in double digits for major titles, making him the eighth player to accomplish the feat. But there was more. The all-time greats would split decisions at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, though it was Djokovic who would claim his fourth consecutive year-end title.

Djokovic vs. Federer: 2015 Meetings

Event	Surface	Round	Winner	Score
Dubai	Hard	F	Federer	6-3, 7-5
Indian Wells	Hard	F	Djokovic	6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2
Rome	Clay	F	Djokovic	6-4, 6-3
Wimbledon	Grass	F	Djokovic	7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3
Cincinnati	Hard	F	Federer	7-6(1), 6-3
US Open	Hard	F	Djokovic	6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals	Hard	RR	Federer	7-5, 6-2
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals	Hard	F	Djokovic	6-3, 6-4