ADVERTISEMENT
Novak Djokovic left Melbourne without a chance to fight for his 11th Australian Open trophy. However, the 24-time Major winner collected more incredible records and extended his unmatched legacy.
Djokovic reached his 50th Major semi-final in Melbourne, standing alone on that feat! Also, the Serb collected his 18th season with one Major semi-final, joining Roger Federer at the top of a notable milestone. Reaching 18 Major semi-finals is a serious achievement.
Only 11 players have achieved that in the Open era, with the names like Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander standing below the list! Federer and Djokovic have achieved that number with an incredible consistency, playing in at least one Major semi-final over the course of nearly two decades!
The Swiss Maestro achieved that in consecutive seasons between 2003 and 2020, earning a milestone that will take some beating in the future! The Serb collected his first Major semi-final in 2007. They became a regular thing for Novak in the upcoming years.
Djokovic embraced ten consecutive seasons with one Major semi-final, ruling the most notable tennis scene between 2011 and 2016. However, Novak's streak ended in 2017 after experiencing an elbow injury. The Serb suffered tough losses in Melbourne, Paris and London.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dominic Thiem and Tomas Berdych halted Djokovic's run in the quarter-final at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The Serb missed the US Open and terminatedhis streak. Novak struggled in the first half of 2018 before conquering the crown at Wimbledon and returning at his best.
Focusing on Majors, Djokovic reduced the gap to Federer and Nadal and matched his greatest rivals. Remaining competitive well after turning 30, Novak has stopped the clock many times and displayed his everlasting longevity.
Djokovic has not missed a Major semi-final in the previous eight seasons, reaching 18 and matching Federer's achievement. The veteran struggled in the opening two rounds of this year's Australian Open against two young guns.
The legend defeated his rivals in four sets and raised his level against two Czechs. Novak ousted Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka for a place in the quarter-final. The 37-year-old battled against Carlos Alcaraz and experienced a left leg injury.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ten-time champion required a medical timeout and dropped the opening set. He fought well in the remaining three, sealing the deal and moving into his 50th Major semi-final. However, the Serb could not challenge Alexander Zverev.
Novak did not train after beating Carlos, with his team doing their best to recover his leg for the next duel. Djokovic pushed Zverev to the limits for 80 minutes in the opening set. He lost it in the tie break and retired due to pain in his leg.
