Eight Players Who Defeated Novak Djokovic At Australian Open

Over the years Novak Djokovic has lost some important matches at the Australian Open. One time that surprised everyone was in 2017 when Denis Istomin not expected to win but beat Djokovic in a five-set match. Istomin played fearlessly leading to a surprising victory. Another time was in 2014 when Stan Wawrinka defeated Djokovic in a thrilling five-set match during the quarterfinals. So we will see some of the players who defeated Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.

1. Marat Safin

In the 2005 Australian Open, Marat Safin surprised everyone by beating Novak Djokovic easily with a 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 victory. Djokovic was only 18 at the time. Safin is a former top-ranked player with a strong style and played well. He used his powerful serves and shots which made it tough for Djokovic to keep up. Djokovic was still learning his defensive skills and struggled against Safin’s accurate play. He later became one of the greatest tennis players. For Safin, it was a reminder of his past greatness. 

2. Paul Goldstein

In 2006, at the Australian Open American player Paul Goldstein, who was not even ranked surprised everyone by beating the young Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was 64th in the world at that time. Goldstein did well in the first set and won 6-2. He played at the net well and took advantage of the mistakes of Djokovic. The second set was different. Djokovic got into his groove played powerfully from the baseline and won it 6-1. But Goldstein again won the next two sets 6-3 and 6-2. This win was significant because it was Djokovic’s first loss in a Grand Slam. 

3. Roger Federer

In the 2007 Australian Open Novak Djokovic who was ranked 14th globally played against Roger Federer who was the champion and world No. 1. Federer was known for his smooth one-handed backhand and great all-around play. He used his powerful serve and accurate shots. Djokovic showed his ability to defend and chase down every shot and gave Federer a hard time with his strong baseline play. The first set was super close which went into a tiebreaker. Federer saved seven set points before winning it 7-6(2). The second set was similar, with both players holding serve until another tense tiebreaker. Federer was more precise this time winning 7-6(3). In the third set, he broke Djokovic’s serve early and held his own to win 6-3. This victory was crucial for Federer marking his 34th consecutive Grand Slam win and helping him on the way to his 10th Grand Slam title. 

4. Andy Roddick

In the 2009 Australian Open, Andy Roddick beat the young Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Although the official result says Djokovic had to stop playing because of the heat, the performance of Roddick was impressive. He served super fast, hit his strong forehands, and took advantage of the mistakes of Djokovic. His playing style kept Djokovic on the defensive and made him use a lot of energy in the hot Melbourne weather. By the fourth set, Djokovic was visibly tired and decided to stop playing which gave Roddick a hard-earned victory and a spot in the semi-finals. 

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5. Jo Wilfried Tsonga

In the 2010 Australian Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had a win over Novak Djokovic. Tsonga was ranked 10th at that time started well and won the first set in a tie-breaker. Djokovic was the third-best player in the world then, fought back, and won the second set which shows his control over the game. Djokovic seemed to have the upper hand when he took the third set but Tsonga did not give up. He played and won the crucial fourth set. The final set was a lesson in not giving up for Tsonga. He took advantage of Djokovic getting tired and making unusual mistakes, winning the match 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. This epic five-set win was not only Tsonga’s first Grand Slam victory over Djokovic but also a sweet payback for losing to Djokovic in the 2008 Australian Open final.

6. Stan Wawrinka

In the 2014 Australian Open Stan Wawrinka had a win over Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Djokovic was going for his fourth straight title and won the first set. But Wawrinka, using his strong one-handed backhand and powerful forehand won the second set. The match kept going back and forth, with Wawrinka serving well and playing aggressively from the baseline. Djokovic fought back and won the fourth set, but Wawrinka stayed calm in the deciding set. He believed in himself and played well and won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. This huge win not only stopped Djokovic’s 25-match winning streak in Melbourne but also helped Wawrinka win his first Grand Slam title. He went on to beat Rafael Nadal in the final.

7. Dennis Istomin

In the 2017 Australian Open, Denis Istomin surprised everyone by beating Novak Djokovic in the second round. Istomin was not a highly-ranked player but played matches. Even though people thought Djokovic was a famous Grand Slam champion and would easily win, Istomin had different ideas. The match went on for five sets, and Istomin stayed focused. Djokovic had some health problems, and he could not play as usual, but Istomin kept playing with power and accuracy. In the end, Istomin won with a score of 7-6, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. 

8. Hyeong Chung

In 2018 at the Australian Open, Hyeon Chung a talented tennis player from South Korea, surprised everyone by beating Novak Djokovic, who had won the tournament six times. Even though Djokovic was known as one of the best players globally, Chung beat him. The young Korean was great at playing from the back of the court and made impressive shots. Djokovic had an injury, which made it hard for him to keep up with Chung’s intense playing style. The match ended with Chung winning 7-6(4), 7-5, 7-6(3). 

To Sum Up

In the end, these eight talented tennis players defeated the most famous Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open and created history. These players played well in matches and at last ended up beating Djokovic.