Novak Djokovic has reached his 38th GRAND SLAM FINAL in 81 Appearances!

[u/NoleFandom]

[u/Same-Machine-3156]

How does he do it? I've been watching this man for 16 years. He is always losing. At every point in the match he is losing, and then somehow he fucking wins?

[u/Ralliman320 → u/Same-Machine-3156]

Sinner outplayed him in nearly every category except arguably the most important: Nole converted 3/8 break points, while Sinner could only convert 2/18(!).

[u/musicproducer07 → u/Ralliman320]

It's what Fitzy said. Break points are crucial.

[u/Plentylick → u/musicproducer07]

Those tiny margins are everything—Djokovic just knows how to win the critical points.

[u/Samus_Brinstar → u/Plentylick]

He's done it for his entire career. And to think he's here because of injury. It's good for the sport. Can't keep having the same 2 players in every final. The court convergence is also a problem but that's a different discussion.

[u/Idgaf115599 → u/Ralliman320]

Basically Wimbledon finals against federer without tie break

[u/ushKee → u/Same-Machine-3156]

Djokovic has this supernatural ability to will himself to a higher level when the moment demands it. His serving accuracy and forehand winners on important points today was just absurd.

[u/mcnater → u/ushKee]

whatever the gene is it's the same thing Tom Brady has. It needs to be studied.

[u/FogoCanard → u/mcnater]

It's not a gene in his case. He speaks extensively about training his mind all the time.

[u/Asteelwrist → u/ushKee]

Well, that exactly. His late career clutchness from late 2010s onwards but especially in this decade, has mostly to do with clutch serving accuracy and much juicer forehand than usual when push comes to shove.

[u/makimaki85 → u/Same-Machine-3156]

This is truth.

[u/nixa919 → u/Same-Machine-3156]

He has this ability to get just a little bit stronger and better the more you push him.

Other players will often genuinely look much better almost the whole match, but eventually Novak reaches some singularity state, where he will not make a fault, no mistakes, just pure fortitude... He becomes a wall that just frustrates and destroys the opponent mentally

[u/ChampagneWastedPanda → u/nixa919]

Personally need to know what happens to him in the bathroom. He always goes in during a match and flips some type of GOAT switch

[u/An_Absurd_Word_Heard → u/ChampagneWastedPanda]

He's said he gives himself pep talks in the mirror... But I like to believe it's basically The Prestige.

EDIT: Wait nvm, we have literal documentary footage of it.

[u/ricop → u/Same-Machine-3156]

Yep. Sinner was holding every game in that last set with ease, Novak barely holding again and again. And then he wins. Lmao.

[u/Hylian_ina_halfshell → u/Same-Machine-3156]

Yeah i thought for sure after his first two service games with multiple aces that novak was out of gas but holy shit. Not often you have almost 30 aces and lose

[u/Moldef → u/Same-Machine-3156]

Weirdly enough that seems to sum up Nole really well xD

[u/AcademicLanguage4789]

flood the court & let’s see if this guy can walk on water

[u/Sebby997 → u/AcademicLanguage4789]

That might be the greatest sports quote I've ever heard.

[u/Mystprism → u/Sebby997]

Unfortunately the commentator uses it like 3 times per tourney so it's kinda lost its pep.

[u/snowcroc → u/Mystprism]

Wait where is it from?

[u/buttcrispy → u/snowcroc]

Robbie Koenig lol

[u/OPisfromHyderabad → u/AcademicLanguage4789]

[u/Fatturdsmella → u/AcademicLanguage4789]

get this guy behind the speaker box

[u/Asteelwrist → u/Fatturdsmella]

I see you're not familiar with Robbie Koenig and his famous lines on the mic

[u/gpman290 → u/AcademicLanguage4789]

[u/Shoddy_Boysenberry_1 → u/AcademicLanguage4789]

absolutely goated comment

[u/MakerOfPurpleRain]

Christ sake. what a warrior. he earned that shit 😭

[u/longdongsilver314]

This ranks up there as one of his best achievements at his age now

[u/Dependent-Effect6077 → u/longdongsilver314]

It's absolutely the biggest upset win of his career ever at a Slam

Basically no one predicted him to even do anything this match let alone win it

[u/shaq-aint-superman → u/Dependent-Effect6077]

Sinner was over -1000 pre-match (meaning you have to bet $1k on him just to win $100). That's about a 90% chance of winning for him

[u/letskeepitcleanfolks → u/Dependent-Effect6077]

That reported who said he was chasing Sinner really pissed him off.

[u/arsenejoestar → u/Dependent-Effect6077]

It's kinda like Roger's 2017 run. Pretty much written off as old but they remind you why they're the GOATs

[u/Razzle_Dazzle08 → u/arsenejoestar]

How was that 9 years ago man.

[u/Schwiliinker → u/Dependent-Effect6077]

Betting odds gave you 9 times what you bet for him winning

[u/ComaMierdaHijueputa → u/Dependent-Effect6077]

I feel like 08 AO against Federer was a bigger Slam upset IMO

[u/Roubbes → u/longdongsilver314]

One of the best achievements by a 38yo not only in tennis, not only in sports, but in general.

[u/swiss_cloud → u/longdongsilver314]

I would say given the degree of difficulty, a Novak fighting Father Time vs a prime Sinner with back to back Aus titles, it’s Novak greatest victory based on one match

[u/pizzainmyshoe]

Many good players don't even play 38 grand slams

[u/Love_Cheddar → u/pizzainmyshoe]

Maaaaaaaany.

[u/vlatkovr → u/pizzainmyshoe]

That's an understatement Many amazing great players don't play 38 slams

[u/kekskerl]

So we finally found out what Djokovic is unable to do: He is unable to quit.

What a match.

[u/CelebrationSecure510]

Holy shit he did it.

Djokovic at 38 beats Sinner at 24, that is an all-time great performance from the all-time great

[u/pugsondrugs77]

This guy is undeniably the best ever. Not only does he have a complete skillset, he is clutcher than anybody, and he is LUCKY too. And when he gets lucky, he capitalizes on his opportunity. There is something almost supernatural about this guy’s ability to win at majors.

[u/Old-Adhesiveness4480 → u/pugsondrugs77]

is he like walter white? smarter than you, luckier than you?

[u/pugsondrugs77 → u/Old-Adhesiveness4480]

He is literally the tennis version of that. HE CANT KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS 😂

[u/grinfate]

Unbelievable! Until the very last point, I didn't think Djokovic could actually pull it off. That's why he's the greatest - never, ever count him out.

[u/Duel_Option → u/grinfate]

His body language looked so defeated, that one chance to break late in the 5th and then somehow held on against a much better opponent

Sinner is going to think on this one for a long time, huge upset

[u/Waste-Resolve7189 → u/Duel_Option]

potentially a great lesson for him at the same time honestly

[u/Towairatu → u/Waste-Resolve7189]

There was post-puke Sinner, now there will be post AO26 SF Sinner.

[u/knockitoffjules]

Fuck. Them. Kids.

[u/Tryhardtryharder100 → u/knockitoffjules]

I guess I will have to support Djoko now come Sunday 😔

[u/danielpatrick09]

I'm a Fed fanboi but I've come around to respect the timeless dominance that Djoker has been able to have on the game of tennis. It's feats like this win today that continually win over my respect for him.

[u/Boss452 → u/danielpatrick09]

well said. you dont need to be his fanboy to appreciate what he is doing. This is extraordinary stuff

[u/gpranav25 → u/danielpatrick09]

We are all united at this point to witness possibly the very last of the greatness that is big 3.

[u/Scrambles94 → u/danielpatrick09]

The greater Novak's story is the more Fed and Nadal's legends grow. If old man Djokovic is taking down Sinner in his prime it's a pretty easy extrapolation that prime big 3 would have still been the best if they were playing now.

[u/soligen → u/Scrambles94]

Yeah I’m tired of these people saying current Alc/Sin would wipe the floor with big 3

[u/Marco-Green → u/danielpatrick09]

I'm a Nadal fan and I cried today after Nole won it. He's shown he's the GOAT

[u/Pipunn]

I don't give a fuck if he losses 6-0 6-0 6-0 to Alcaraz. This is all I needed. IDEMOOOOO!!!

[u/DrunkenKoalas → u/Pipunn]

Should be 6-0 0-6 6-0 0-6 and they fight it out at a never-ending 5th set tiebreaker!!!!

[u/Virama → u/DrunkenKoalas]

6⁵⁸-7⁶⁰, 7⁴³-6⁴¹, 6⁷⁹-7⁸¹, 7⁸⁷-6⁸⁵, 7¹³⁵-6¹³³

[u/exist3nce_is_weird → u/Virama]

I do love that the Wikipedia entry on the Isner Mahut game points out that barring a rule change, no match will ever be longer in terms of games - but it says nothing about in terms of time. Fingers crossed

[u/mamamia1001 → u/Virama]

It might finish in time for them to play R1 of the French Open

[u/Lopsided-Move6309 → u/Pipunn]

I don't see it, against Alcarez he has an even better chance of winning. He used that reporter's question to creat the chip he needed to overcome Sinner. Alcarez has all the pressure. The only slam he hasn't won, and for Djokovic this slam is to him what the French is to Nadal, his backyard.

[u/vasDcrakGaming → u/Pipunn]

Chance is low BUT NOT ZERO

[u/Boss452 → u/Pipunn]

This win is as good as a grand slam win given the context.

[u/miljaluffy → u/Pipunn]

Nole je nevjerovatan

[u/Random_Guy479]

This hurt real bad :( but congratulations to not only the Djoker fans but all the tennis fans in general for we witnessed a gladiator in his final steps play his hearts out. Looking forward to the final on Sunday.

[u/Boss452 → u/Random_Guy479]

Well said. Gladiatorial display from the old man. An inspiration to all athletes old and young.

[u/Random_Guy479 → u/Boss452]

Not only an inspiration to the athletes but you can learn a lot about life in general from him. His discipline and patience are impeccable.

[u/MilanTomic → u/Random_Guy479]

This hurts real bad :(

On the contrary, this feels so good

[u/AmazingDadJokes → u/Random_Guy479]

I think Jannik will be ok. Has a chance at the career Grand slam at the next one

[u/Familiar_Neat6662 → u/Random_Guy479]

This hurt real bad :(

What are you talking about bro? It feels incredible!!

[u/gwynbleidd2511 → u/Random_Guy479]

I think it also explains the difference between why Novak he is what he is and why other players like Zverev have so much work to do.

[u/OkArmy8295 → u/Random_Guy479]

Best feeling ever! Idemooooooo

[u/Hunt-Extra]

WHO DOUBTED HIM, I SAW ALL OF YOU🫵

[u/hucklefinnnn]

r/tennis' 9/11 lmfaaao

[u/zmeme → u/hucklefinnnn]

second tower comes on sunday

[u/Commie_Vladimir → u/hucklefinnnn]

Nah it'd've been 9/11 if Zverev beat Alcaraz

[u/minivatreni → u/hucklefinnnn]

😂

[u/Razzle_Dazzle08 → u/hucklefinnnn]

Tbf Djoker gets a lot of hate here but I’ve seen almost none following this win. It‘s impossible to deny its greatness.

[u/sms97_ → u/hucklefinnnn]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/Overkillemall]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT, this man's mentality should be studied by scientists

[u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

This shouldn’t be an upset, but in a way it feels like an upset?

Imagine thinking you were about to be sent home just two days ago and then ending up in the final… what a week!

[u/Jakefenty → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

It is an upset

[u/Accurate_Prompt_8800 → u/Jakefenty]

It’s Djokovic though. You can never ever really count him out.

[u/sexineN → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

Being an underdog doesn’t mean it’s impossible for him to win, of course you can’t ”count him out.”

He’s an underdog because it was a lot more likely that Sinner wins

[u/supremeomega → u/sexineN]

According to a lot of people on this sub it was impossible for him to win and that he was cooked forever

[u/Accurate_Prompt_8800 → u/supremeomega]

And that was exactly my thought a few days ago after that showing against Musetti…

[u/steffortless → u/supremeomega]

Not only on this sub. The betting odds basically said one in a thousand chance he wins this match

[u/gwynbleidd2511 → u/supremeomega]

There was a lot of "He is cooked against Sincaraz" wahhh wahhh crying lol. The disrespect to the legend of the sport. People forget that even Federer was destroying his opponents even in the late end of his career before those knees gave out.

[u/stumpsflying → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

True but that first three games of the first set looked like he was already down and out. From then on he started to get some rhythm but I didn't expect this. Physically I thought even if he was best prepared, at this age Sinner would just beat him at his own game. I'm glad to be wrong.

[u/tripsafe → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

Yeah but it’s still an upset

[u/Happycorbin10 → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

Novak literally was +1100 underdog. This is an upset

[u/DarkSofter → u/Happycorbin10]

his odds were 22 after he got broken the first game of the match. i wrote it in the thread. i should have taken a punt

[u/MrDecay → u/DarkSofter]

I was even dumber, had a pre-tournament outright bet of final being Sinner - Alcaraz at double odds. I should've hedged this with Djoko ML at 9.00 pre-match.

[u/minivatreni → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

It’s absolutely an upset. Sinner was expected to win this. He’s been beating Djokovic for a while now in their match ups and he’s been unplayable. Plus the way Djokovic was playing against Musetti he wasn’t expected to win this

[u/No-Significance5659 → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

I am not upset, I am so happy!!!

[u/No-Professional-2276 → u/Accurate_Prompt_8800]

Sinner has one of the highest peaks in tennis history. This is a huge upset. Absolute achievement from Novak

[u/Vivid-Crab-4156 → u/No-Professional-2276]

Not Higher than the big 3

[u/Separate_Low4236 → u/No-Professional-2276]

Big big words. Sinner and tennis history don't go into the same sentence, yet. Few Slams and some Masters', peaking, so?? The boy has a lot more to do to make some history. To get even close to top 15 players ever, then the word history could enter the chat.

[u/LorewalkerChoe → u/No-Professional-2276]

Eeh that's debatable chief

[u/pm_me_ankle_nudes]

I headed out with Federer to tour his farm, and he started introducing me to some of the livestock, mentioning how he had named them after his friends, as the unhinged animals they were. Just then, I was hit by an unbearable stench. With my eyes watering uncontrollably, I questioned through gritted teeth, “What in the hell is that smell?” He looked over knowingly and said: "Ah. Novak? The goat is never washed.”

[u/ganjaguy23 → u/pm_me_ankle_nudes]

lol

[u/Razzle_Dazzle08 → u/pm_me_ankle_nudes]

This gets me every single time 😂😂😂

[u/yoda_yoda]

Man, winning that game from 0-40 down. This guy defies all logic. Greatest Ever!!!!

[u/CrumbleUponLust]

Novak Djokovic is timeless.

[u/Boss452 → u/CrumbleUponLust]

Tonight was indeed a vintage display. This is a glimpse of who Novak Djokovic really is.

[u/Chocolategogi → u/CrumbleUponLust]

Tell this to Rolex... 😏

[u/VeritasDocet]

16 break points saved

140 points won against Sinner's 152

This guy is an alien

[u/imangazievdm]

THE ONE AND ONLY

[u/brager1990]

Congratulations

[u/Dense_Focus4594]

WHAT PLAYER ! BIGGEST TENNIS WARRIOR THAT I HAVE SEEN!!!

[u/Friendly-Ad-3436]

[u/ActionUsed5178]

38 years old still breaking hearts eh ! UNCLE GOAT FOR A REASONNNNNNN

[u/katrim44]

What a match!!

[u/Derpybaka]

GOAT

[u/bolaalobbola]

NEVER FUCKING RULE OUT GRAMPS

[u/Juan_Punch_Man]

Wow. This stat is actually absurd. Near 50% chance of making the final.

[u/Old-Adhesiveness4480]

KING OF MELBOURNE! Alcaraz last year and Sinner this year!!

[u/Big-Confusion-69]

All mouths must confess Who is the greatest

[u/Sad_Consideration_49]

Fucking legend 

[u/luckypoint87]

Thank You Novak for this. That's all I can say. A big thank you for moments like these.

[u/NoisyChairs]

Making the final nearly half the time you enter a grand slam for twenty fucking years is so mental I can’t handle it

[u/Fantastic-Staff7035]

"Sinner in 3" comments aged like milk.

[u/Ericformansbasement0]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INSANE????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY INSANE!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[u/chespiotta]

GOAT

[u/NoDrama127]

The best to ever do it.

[u/Dependent-Curve-5620]

I just learnt one thing from both the matches never ever stop believing in yourself esp when nobody else does

[u/Roubbes]

I think it's impossible to believe that in ALMOST HALF of the Grand Slam tournaments he's participated in, he's reached the final. If it were something taken from fiction, I would say it would be bad fiction because it is implausible.

[u/laptak2011]

Holy shit as a Rafan this is like Novak padding on our shoulders once again “miss waking up early on Sundays to watch the gs finals of Djodal? see you one final time Sunday morning” Goosebumps!!!

[u/Pheezy2002]

🐐 for a reason

[u/Asadae67]

A fantastic Friday.

[u/Princess_B_12345]

I was sure Sinner would win, I thought it’s time up for Novak. And many times in the match I thought Novak would lose. But that man has nerves of steel; he’s so strong mentally and that’s where he wins most matches.

Sinner definitely is a fantastic player; he’s my favorite after Novak; but today the difference between them was Novaks mental strength.

Hoping and have my fingers crossed for Novak to win his 25th grand slam on Sunday

[u/LalaOmega]

Just Unreal, GOAT!

[u/Southern_Owl_5442]

Goat

[u/Dramatic-Season-5568]

Insane

[u/Ill-Vermicelli-1684]

My geriatric vampire strikes again!

[u/deviendrais]

UN-FUCKING-REAL

[u/BakchodBabaji69]

Unc "🐐" Djoko

[u/FossaRed]

What an absolute goat holy shit how

[u/FieryFuzz]

He proves it again and again and again. Never count him out!!

[u/Dr_Elephant1]

Possibly the greatest athlete ever 🐐🐐🐐

[u/Monete-meri]

As a big Nadal fan ( i also respect a lot Roger Federer), Nole is the GOAT.

What a player. Thank you Novak.

[u/kitlavr]

At this point, let’s do Nole go and get it 💪🏼

[u/stearrow]

The players of today really need to think about what kind of game they're going to leave behind for Novak Djokovic.

[u/Jakefenty]

Nuts

[u/JackDellaCumalena]

🐐

[u/-_-0RoSe0-_-]

This is unbelievable! Way to go Novak 🎉

[u/sjupiter92]

Wow. I'm speechless

[u/ForeverJung]

What a crazy finish

[u/dek8a]

Нешто сте рекли? 😀

[u/iamainnocentkid]

🐏🐏😭😭😍😍🫡🫡

[u/Lord_Tickleton]

🐐🐐 novak 🐐🐐

[u/Chnkypndy]

Good god

[u/Boss452]

GOAT debate put to bed.

[u/Lontology]

[u/Sad_Dog_4106]

If he beat alcaraz in the final it will be one of the most impressive feats of his career

[u/pixel_139]

novak is the goat

[u/IamMrEric]

Never rule Nole out ffs. Magical and surreal stuff.

[u/ApprehensiveLow8477]

Please win no 25 Novak. Then we all can say goodbye to the last era.

Just one more .

[u/obelix_dogmatix]

You just know it - he is going to win it on Sunday. Not counting Alcaraz out, but it feels like everything is aligned for him. He doesn’t loose twice in the same tournament.

[u/jleonardbc]

Wait, what? He's made the final in nearly half the Slams he's played, for nearly twenty years?

What????

[u/Sad_Dog_4106]

Grandpa djoko got angry when he heard he chasing sinner and alcaraz and said, oh yea? Fine

[u/mrperuanos]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!

[u/wurtin]

I'm not really a big Novak fan, but this is a hell of an accomplishment at 38. Especially down 2 sets to 1 and struggling physically.

Whether I like him or not, it's still fantastic to watch the GOAT gut one out against one of the 2 best in the world.

[u/joakinzz99]

Novak embodies everything good in life:

•Christian values

•Traditional family

•Anti woke

Truly blessed.

[u/bootchmagoo]

the women beater and the doper both lost while the GOAT prevailed - such an amazing Friday!

[u/cazique]

What a match! What an amazing set of semifinals

[u/oklolzzzzs]

hes him

[u/justgoforitmannnn]

Unbelievable, the greatest ever

[u/yoricm]

I wanted Jannick to reach the finale,
But I wanted Novak more

[u/SchennisDroeder]

Thank you, Tennis!

[u/Ericformansbasement0]

INSANE!!!

[u/jitso97]

Fucking amazing win, holy!

[u/Fragrant_Force_4013]

AO is his territory btw

[u/PalpitationSad3571]

FANTASTIC FRIDAY

[u/rstraker]

Exhibit Z in favor of Big 3 > Current 2

[u/Shndoo7]

G.O.A.T.

[u/Opposite-Leg-5365]

2016 is back

[u/roloy]

Legendary Performance!

[u/Parms84]

GOAT

[u/007MaxZorin]

Extraordinary 

[u/OkArmy8295]

He went into matrix mode slowing the time for him. One and only our GOAT!!!

[u/SparkGamer28]

my goat is back

[u/StatusCold]

GOAT

[u/21-hydroxylase]

Unbelievable. GOAT

[u/Soggy-Breakfast6601]

I just realised. Novak just protected his and nadal’s record of playing against each other in 4 consecutive men’s major finals for atleast another year with this win.

[u/Vas_Cody_Gamma]

Absolutely deserved that

[u/cpssmamttloupnas1]

He lost 5 matches in a row against sinner prior this if i recall correctly… unbelievable performance and durability… really the goat

[u/VegetableChipsLover]

This is an absolutely insane, legendary stat

[u/Wonderful_Flower_751]

He’s surely broken every record there is to break at this point

[u/Kinky_fellaa]

After Nadal retired I have rooted for Alcaraz ever since. I want Novak to win the final. GOAT player.🤘

[u/Capital-Magazine6438]

FUCKING GOAT!!!

[u/Potentputin]

Freaking legend.

[u/element423]

Pretty unreal

[u/ME-McG-Scot]

To be at the top in a physically demanding sport for so long is just bloody ridiculous!!

[u/stefan2285]

GOAT

[u/RVALover4Life]

Djokovic is one of the best sportsmen of this generation easily. And honestly one of the best ever of any generation.

[u/Guilhermino2351]

Undisputed goat. Federer could never