Novak Djokovic facts: Grand Slam records and rivalries

Novak Djokovic facts read like a record book for men’s tennis. From his first major title at the 2008 Australian Open to his 24th at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic built a résumé that sits at the center of the sport’s biggest numbers.

The major titles that define his place

Novak Djokovic has won a record 24 major singles titles. He reached that mark by winning the 2023 US Open, after taking the French Open earlier that year for his 23rd major title.

His first major title came at the 2008 Australian Open, and the same tournament became the place where he kept stacking history. Djokovic has won a record ten Australian Open titles, and he extended that record to 10 with his victory in 2023.

He is also the only man in tennis history to be the reigning champion of all four majors at once across three different surfaces. On top of that, he is the only man to achieve a triple Career Grand Slam.

What is a Career Golden Masters?

A Career Golden Masters is the full set of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, and Novak Djokovic was the first player to complete it. He is also the only player to complete a Career Golden Masters twice.

That double achievement fits the same pattern seen across the biggest stages of his career: Djokovic keeps turning major milestones into records, often in events where the field includes the sport’s top-ranked players.

Djokovic vs Nadal: the rivalry with the biggest total

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have played 60 tour-level matches, the most between two men in the Open Era. Their meetings produced long stretches of control for Djokovic, including seven consecutive finals wins against Nadal from Indian Wells in 2011 through the 2012 Australian Open.

Those matches also add up to one of the sport’s defining head-to-heads. Djokovic’s success against Nadal spans different surfaces and repeated finals, with the 60-match total standing alone in Open Era men’s tennis.

Djokovic vs Federer: a rivalry decided by tight margins

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played 50 times between 2006 and 2020, and Djokovic led the rivalry 27–23. He also won four of his five major finals against Federer.

One of the striking details of Djokovic’s rise is how often he beat Federer when the title was on the line. That record in major finals came alongside the broader 27–23 head-to-head edge, built over 50 meetings across 14 years.

The matches that announced his level

Before the major-title record, Djokovic delivered a breakthrough performance at the 2007 Canadian Open. He became the first player since Boris Becker in 1994 to beat the world No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1 players in a single event.

That run showed the same pattern that later defined his biggest achievements: Djokovic could beat the top of the draw in one tournament, then carry that level into the Grand Slam stage. Years later, those wins became part of the path to his 23rd major at the 2023 French Open and his 24th at the 2023 US Open.

A record book that keeps growing

By 2024, Djokovic became the only player to complete a career sweep of the Big Titles. Add that to his triple Career Grand Slam, his two Career Golden Masters, his 24 major singles titles, and his 10 Australian Open titles, and his place in tennis history is built on a stack of firsts and records.

If you’ve followed the numbers, you’re ready for the quiz that follows.