“It’s quite unreal,” is what an emotional Novak Djokovic said 5 years ago when he won his 16th career Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2019. In what was a jaw-dropping encounter, the Serbian stood strong and just when it felt that Roger Federer could finally win it, he turned the tables to take the title. Reminiscing about the iconic days, Novak Djokovic recently opened up on the finale and how everything, at one point, seemed to be going far away from him.

Novak Djokovic shared his thoughts on his unforgettable 2019 Wimbledon victory over Roger Federer, a match that cemented his place in tennis history. In a recent interview with Head Tennis, Djokovic described it as “probably the most nerve-wracking match I was ever a part of.” He recalled how Federer had been the better player statistically, winning more points and dominating several key moments. Despite this, Djokovic found a way to turn the tide.

“He broke my serve and was serving for it at 8-7 in the fifth set, 40-15 down,” Djokovic said. He also talked about the intensity of the match. “I just tried to make him play, make him earn his victory.” Federer had two championship points, but Djokovic stayed composed and forced Federer to keep fighting. The match lasted nearly five hours – with Djokovic saving crucial points and pulling off an extraordinary comeback – winning the title 76(5) 16 76(4) 46 1312(3).

Djokovic acknowledged the challenge of facing Federer, who played aggressively and kept him under constant pressure. “Statistically, if you see, he had all the stats on his side,” Djokovic admitted, but his mental toughness carried him through.

The match concluded in a dramatic fifth-set tiebreaker – and remains one of the most iconic in Wimbledon’s history. This was also the longest-played final in the event. Djokovic’s ability to find a way to win under immense pressure showcases why he is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest players. After the loss, Roger Federer also opened up about how this loss forced him to look back at his ’08 Wimbledon loss to Rafael Nadal.

Defeat to Novak Djokovic forces Roger Federer to look back at iconic Wimbledon loss to Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer reflected on his heartbreaking 2019 Wimbledon final loss to Novak Djokovic, drawing parallels to his iconic 2008 defeat to Rafael Nadal. In both instances, Federer found himself losing after a tough battle that left an indelible mark on tennis history. The final, which was played for nearly 7 hours, owing to rain delays saw Rafael Nadal win the match, 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7. Having won the title 5 times in a row, he was the clear favorite. However, the Spaniard had some other plans in mind.

“Like similar to ’08 maybe, I will look back at it and think, ‘well, it’s not that bad after all,’” Federer remarked, candidly addressing the emotional toll of the loss. “For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon.” Federer acknowledged the defeat but expressed hope that time would help him see the match in a different light, just as it did with his 2008 loss.

The 2019 final, which lasted nearly five hours, was the first Wimbledon match to be decided by a fifth-set tiebreaker. Reflecting on the similarities, he added, “Epic ending, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, sure there’s similarities [between this and 2008]. I’m the loser both times, so that’s the only similarity I see.”

Federer’s words show the pain of coming so close to victory yet falling short in two of the most memorable matches in Wimbledon’s history. What are your thoughts on both of these iconic matches? Do let us know in the comments below!