Fifty photos: Snapshots of every Novak Djokovic v. Roger Federer match
Since 2006, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have traded forehands and backhands; fist pumps and screams; losses and triumphs. With an Australian Open final berth on the line Thursday, the rivals will step onto the court for their 50th career meeting.
Nearly 14 years ago, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer stood across the net from each other for the first time in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters. On Thursday, they'll meet for the 50th time, in yet another late-round match at a major tournament.
With yet another Australian Open final appearance on the line–they hold 36 Grand Slam titles between them, including 13 of the last 16 Australian Opens—we look back at each time these rivals have squared off. (All photos by Getty Images)
**1. 2006 Monte Carlo, first round: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. A rivalry officially commences. (Federer leads 1-0) **
2. 2006 Davis Cup, World Group playoff: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. In their first best-of-five match, Federer dominates in routine fashion. (Federer leads 2-0)
3. 2007 Australian Open, round of 16: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3. Another seamless win for the Swiss but this time on a major stage. (Federer leads 3-0)
4. 2007 Dubai, quarterfinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3. Federer wins again on his way to another title run at the ATP 500 event. (Federer leads 4-0)
**5. 2007 Montreal, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-6 (2). After five failed attempts, Djokovic finally fights off Federer to claim his second Masters 1000 title. (Federer leads 4-1) **
**6. 2007 US Open, final: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4. Just a few points away from losing the first and second sets, Federer, a seasoned champion, takes home his 12th Grand Slam title. (Federer leads 5-1) **
**7. 2008 Australian Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5). This time Djokovic is ready, having gone deep at the 2007 US Open, and now used to the pressure. The Serb would go on to claim his first major title, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final. (Federer leads 5-2) **
**8. 2008 Monte Carlo, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 3-2 ret. Djokovic was forced to stop midway through the second set due to a breathing illness. (Federer leads 6-2) **
**9. 2008 US Open, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. After getting past the now fellow major champion, Federer would dismiss Andy Murray in the final to pick up his fifth US Open crown. (Federer leads 7-2) **
**10. 2009 Miami, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Any meetings before the final four are a thing of the past at this point. (Federer leads 7-3) **
**11. 2009 Rome, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. For the first time, the Serbian posts consecutive victories in this matchup. (Federer leads 7-4) **
**12. 2009 Cincinnati, final: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-1, 7-5. The Swiss had reason to be confident in this championship, having won three titles since their Rome meeting, including consecutive majors at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. (Federer leads 8-4) **
**13. 2009 US Open, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5. On track to lift up his sixth consecutive US Open trophy, Federer would lose to Juan Martin Del Potro in the final. (Federer leads 9-4) **
**14. 2009 Basel, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Djokovic earns his fourth title of the season, denying Federer a fourth consecutive triumph at his home event. (Federer leads 9-5) **
**15. 2010 Toronto, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. A runner-up finish to Andy Murray ensued for Federer. (Federer leads 10-5) **
**16. 2010 US Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. Twice a point away from losing another close battle to the Swiss star, the Serb finds a way to save both match points and win the near four-hour clash. (Federer leads 10-6) **
**17. 2010 Shanghai, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-5, 6-4. The Swiss was once again foiled by Murray in his follow-up match. (Federer leads 11-6) **
**18. 2010 Basel, final: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. After Djokovic broke his title streak the year prior, Federer would raise up the trophy yet again in front of his home crowd. (Federer leads 12-6) **
**19. 2010 ATP Finals, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-1, 6-4. Federer's precise ball striking was no match for the Serb that day. (Federer leads 13-6) **
**20. 2011 Australian Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-4. In sparking form, the Serb would go on to capture his second title Down Under. (Federer leads 13-7) **
**21. 2011 Dubai, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-3, 6-3. The unstoppable Djokovic easily dismisses Federer to maintain his perfect 12-0 season start. (Federer leads 13-8) **
**22. 2011 Indian Wells, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The Serb would next defeat Rafael Nadal and would supersede Federer in the rankings, taking the No. 2 spot. (Federer leads 13-9) **
**23. 2011 French Open, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-6 (5), 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 (5). As the sun begins to set on Court Philippe Chatrier, Federer rises from the darkness to end Djokovic's 43-match win streak. (Federer leads 14-9) **
**24. 2011 US Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-7 (7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. Deja vu, anyone? Djokovic saves two match points, one by a forehand return heard 'round the grounds, to keep his run alive. He would claim his first US Open title, defeating Nadal in the final. (Federer leads 14-10) **
**25. 2012 Rome, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Djokovic dominates the majority of the baseline rallies and never relinquishes control. (Federer leads 14-11) **
**26. 2012 French Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Determined to get revenge after losing a tight four-set clash the previous year, Djokovic comes out on top, but would fall to King of Clay Nadal in the final. (Federer leads 14-12) **
**27. 2012 Wimbledon, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. After being written off by many, Federer proves he's still a force to be reckoned with by defeating the defending champion and world No. 1. Federer would snatch his 7th Wimbledon title. (Federer leads 15-12) **
**28. 2012 Cincinnati, final: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-0, 7-6 (7). Unlike many of their previous bouts, Federer posts a bagel en route to topping Djokovic for his fifth title in Cincinnati. (Federer leads 16-12) **
**29. 2012 ATP Finals, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (6), 7-5. With a backhand passing shot, the world No. 1 finishes the year in the best possible manner by claiming his sixth crown of the season. (Federer leads 16-13) **
**30. 2013 Paris-Bercy, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Djokovic would go on to triumph at the Masters 1000 event for the first time in four years. (Federer leads 16-14) **
**31. 2013 ATP Finals, round robin: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-2. Djokovic moves to within one win away of tying their head-to-head series for the first time. (Federer leads 16-15) **
**32. 2014 Dubai, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Federer fights from behind to reject Djokovic's title defense. (Federer leads 17-15) **
**33. 2014 Indian Wells, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Dusting off a shaky opening set, Djokovic regains form to claim his third title in the California desert. (Federer leads 17-16) **
**34. 2014 Monte Carlo, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-5, 6-2. The Swiss denies the Serb's bid to tie the series for a second time. (Federer leads 18-16) **
**35. 2014 Wimbledon, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4. Although Federer saves a match point in the fourth set, Djokovic steps up in the decider to reclaim the Wimbledon title. (Federer leads 18-17) **
**36. 2014 Shanghai, semifinal: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-4, 6-4. A clean straight-set victory allows Federer to win the Shanghai trophy for the first time a day later. (Federer leads 19-17) **
**37. 2015 Dubai, final: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-3, 7-5. Federer becomes the first person since 1991 to smash 9000 aces, after serving one in the start of the second set. (Federer leads 20-17) **
**38. 2015 Indian Wells, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2. Neither drops a set coming into the final, but Djokovic emerges to replicate his championship win over Federer from the year before. (Federer leads 20-18) **
**39. 2015 Rome, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-4, 6-3. This win would definitely leave it's mark, as Djokovic grazed his nose after popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate. (Federer leads 20-19) **
**40. 2015 Wimbledon, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (10), 6-4, 6-3: At 28, the Serb holds up his ninth Grand Slam trophy and finally ties things up with Federer. (Tied 20-20) **
**41. 2015 Cincinnati, final: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-6 (1), 6-3. Federer tastes victory for a seventh time at the Western & Southern Open to move back in front. (Federer leads 21-20) **
**42. 2015 US Open, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. In front of a heavily pro-Federer crowd, Djokovic kept his focus on the court to win his third major title in 2015 (Tied 21-21) **
**43. 2015 ATP Finals, round robin: Federer d. Djokovic, 7-5, 6-2. Federer wins 45 percent of his return points to claim a decisive victory. (Federer leads 22-21) **
**44. 2015 ATP Finals, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-3, 6-4. Djokovic avenges his round-robin loss with his own clinical performance, making history by becoming the first player to win the event four times in a row. (Tied 22-22) **
**45. 2016 Australian Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Djokovic would go on to retain the trophy for major No. 11 and take the series lead for the first time. (Djokovic leads 23-22) **
**46. 2018 Cincinnati, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 6-4, 6-4. It's a historic win for Djokovic, who becomes the first ATP player to complete a career Golden Masters. (Djokovic leads 24-22) **
47. 2018 Paris-Bercy, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 7-6 (3). After three grueling sets, Djokovic outlasts Federer and denies his rival's quest to claim a 100th career title. (Djokovic leads 25-22)
48. 2019 Wimbledon, final: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3). After saving two championship points with Federer serving at 8-7 the fifth set, Djokovic would mount a sensational comeback to win the longest final in Wimbledon history. (Djokovic leads 26-22)
49. 2019 ATP Finals, round robin: Federer d. Djokovic, 6-4, 6-3. For the first time in four years, Federer would dismiss the world No. 2 to the delight of his supporters in London. (Djokovic leads 26-23)
50. 2020 Australian Open, semifinal: Djokovic d. Federer, 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-3. Down 1-4, 0-40 in the first set, Djokovic claws back to take control, and in turn, reaches his eighth final at Melbourne Park. (Djokovic leads 27-23)
