Novak Djokovic triumphed over Taylor Fritz on his way to the Shanghai Masters final, marking their tenth encounter where the Serb maintained his flawless record against the American, defeating him for the tenth time in as many meetings. This victory adds Fritz to Djokovic’s list of favored opponents, against whom he has faced off at least ten times without suffering a loss. Notably, all their matches have taken place at prestigious events, with neither player competing against the other below the Masters 1000 level.
Djokovic’s most commanding head-to-head records
Novak boasts an impressive 67-0 record against a select group of players who have never been able to defeat the greatest player of all time. He leads Gael Monfils 19-0, marking one of the most lopsided rivalries in the Open era. Another Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy, has also been unable to overcome the 24-time Major champion in 14 encounters. Djokovic holds a 12-0 record against both Andreas Seppi and Milos Raonic, with the latter presenting some close matches but ultimately falling short. Recently, Taylor Fritz joined this exclusive list, managing to win only three sets in ten meetings with the formidable Serb. The American has challenged Djokovic twice at the Australian Open, securing those three sets in Melbourne but failing to clinch a victory.
Novak vs. Taylor – Their Initial Matchups
Djokovic and Fritz began their rivalry in Monte Carlo in 2019, where the Serb secured a quick 6-3, 6-0 victory in just 68 minutes. Novak took an early lead, dominating the second set to seal the win in no time. A few weeks later, they met again in Madrid, with Fritz putting up a stronger fight than in their first encounter, but Djokovic still came out on top with a 6-4, 6-2 win in 65 minutes, capitalizing on his strong serve and breaking Fritz three times. Their most thrilling match occurred during the 2021 Australian Open, where Djokovic played through the pain of a torn abdominal muscle, requiring medical timeouts and struggling in the third and fourth sets. Fritz appeared poised to upset the legend, but Djokovic found his rhythm again in the final set, ultimately winning 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 after a grueling three and a half hours.
Novak Reinforces His Supremacy
They faced off in Rome four months later, where the Serb emerged victorious with a score of 6-3, 7-6. Fritz put up a strong fight in the second set, rallying from a 5-3 deficit but ultimately losing in a tight tiebreaker, leaving him 0-4 against the world’s top player. In their subsequent match in Paris at the end of 2021, Djokovic had to fend off three breaks against Taylor but ultimately secured a 6-4, 6-3 win, marking his fifth consecutive victory. It wasn’t until over a year later that they met again, this time at the 2022 ATP Finals. Fritz challenged Djokovic throughout the match, with both players exchanging two breaks and remaining closely matched. Djokovic edged out the win, 7-6, 7-6, rallying from a 5-3 deficit in the second set and clinching the tiebreak 8-6 for a hard-fought victory.
Fritz Battles Hard, but Djokovic Stays Undefeated
The seventh matchup took place in the summer of 2023 in Cincinnati, where Novak defeated Taylor 6-0, 6-4 in just 61 minutes. Djokovic started strong, winning nine of the first ten games. Although Fritz mounted a comeback and leveled the score at 4-4, Djokovic remained focused, securing a late break to win in straight sets. A few weeks later, they faced off for the first time at the US Open, where Djokovic triumphed over the home favorite 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in an entertaining match, saving ten of 12 break points and achieving six breaks of his own. The current season also featured two more encounters between the two, with Djokovic maintaining his perfect record. Their clash at the Australian Open was particularly intense, lasting three hours and 45 minutes, with Djokovic ultimately winning 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. After trading the first two sets in nearly two and a half hours under a scorching sun, both players struggled with their energy levels. However, as conditions improved in the third set, Djokovic took control, pulling ahead and winning in four sets. He faced two break points and converted 40% of his return points into four breaks from 21 opportunities, having wasted all 15 chances in the first two sets before finally finding success.
Their tenth encounter took place nine months later in Shanghai, where Djokovic prevailed over Fritz 6-4, 7-6 in a closely contested match lasting an hour and 59 minutes. Djokovic, who had a 70% success rate on his first serve, saved two break points and applied constant pressure. Fritz put up a strong fight, saving eight out of nine break points, but he couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities, notably in the second set’s eighth game and a set point during the tiebreaker. Djokovic sustained a left leg injury in the second set’s fifth game, needing a medical timeout, but pushed through to secure his tenth consecutive win over Fritz.