Repeating their 2014 and 2015 Wimbledon finals, Novak Djokovic’s 48th face-off with Roger Federer in 2019 was epic! It was a 4-hour, 55-minute battle between the then World No. 1 and his long-term rival, second seed Federer. Five years have passed since that match, but still holds a special place in every fan’s heart including the Serbian ATP tennis star Hamad Medjedovic. Reminiscing about the historic match, he revealed his candid yet triggering reaction, siding with his countryman, Djokovic.

A fan, siding with Djokovic’s strategic gameplay against Federer in that 2019 Wimbledon match, recently wrote, “Novak Djokovic has a history of making Federer lose from 40-15 with match points. Maybe it’s less Federer and more to do with Novak’s insane mental strength in pressure moments? 🥶💪🏻.” Responding to that, Medjedovic, a 20-year-old player, said, “Biggest choke.”

Making his preference, the Serbian tennis player who lost in the qualifiers round at Wimbledon this season reminded every tennis fan about the longest face-off between the two champions in Wimbledon 2019. Well, Medjedovic expressing support for Djokovic is not surprising. In a recent interview with CLAY, he clearly mentioned how big of a Djoker fan he is. “Let’s just say he’s the great role model for everybody on and off the court. I think so many people can learn from him, not only about tennis, but how he is as a person,” he said. 

However, this comment coming from a fellow ATP pro about a legend like Roger Federer might not sit well with Federer fans. The debate over who plays better among the two is never-ending, fans have always admired both champions for their contributions to the tennis world. Especially in Wimbledon, Federer’s victories have been massive. As a result, this comment from Medjedovic has stirred up a whole new controversy, with some writing “Really interested to understand what you mean by this?” on the original post.

The Wimbledon 2019 match ended with Djokovic winning by, 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, and 13-12(3). Interestingly, that was not only his fifth Wimbledon singles title victory, but it also extended his lead over the Swiss by 26-22. On the other hand, Federer, who has a record of winning eight Grand Slams at Wimbledon, could not replicate his 2017 victory on-court, and a tie-break round (for the first time at Wimbledon) decided the winner of that tournament.

While the audience chanted his name, Federer, who was 37 at the time, struggled in the tiebreakers. In the final set, (8-7) when Federer was at 40-15 against Djokovic, he saved both break serves. This led him to win the match after the third tie-break. However, Djokovic’s appreciation for the 20-time Slam champion referring to that match stole the hearts of fans.

Novak Djokovic admits to be on the “back foot” while playing with Federer at the 2019 Wimbledon

While Federer confessed, “I just feel like it such an incredible opportunity missed. I can’t believe it,” Djokovic’s reaction was a bit different. Praising his opponent, he added, “I thought most of the match I was on the back foot. I was defending. He was dictating the play. I just tried to fight and find a way when it mattered the most, which is what happened. Thank you very much for staying all the way to the end.” 

Although Federer retired three years later, Djokovic’s reign in tennis continues. After winning seven Wimbledon titles, the 37-year-old is now eyeing his 25th Grand Slam title this season at Wimbledon. The tennis world will once again witness Djokovic’s relentless determination and dominance if he confirms his participation in Wimbledon 2024. After his current knee surgery, “the recovery is going surprisingly well” and he will decide on his participation in the tournament shortly. 

Till then, let us know your thoughts about the iconic Djokovic vs Federer Wimbledon 2019 final match!