The end of Djokovic’s 43-match winning streak

Roger Federer ousted Novak Đoković in the semifinal at Roland Garros in four sets yesterday, breaking an impressive streak of the Serb consisted of 43 matches won in a row. Due to loss, Djokovic didn’t secure himself the number 1 spot in the tennis hierarchy next Monday, he was also one win away from tying John McEnroe’s record of the most consecutive wins to open a year… “It was best five months of my life, my tennis career,” claimed Djokovic, “I cannot complain. It was definitely an incredible period. It had to end somewhere. I knew it was coming. Unfortunately, it came in the bad moment. It was a big match today. But look, it’s the sport. I will keep on working hard. I tried to motivate myself. It’s a big match, and I tried to think about the first point of the third set, the new match is starting. And I think I played well… I was serving for the fourth set, and he played couple of really good points. So he deserved it.” The Serb has still a chance to overcome one record – the most winning matches in a row in ‘Masters 1000’ tournaments – he needs to win his another tournament at this level (probably Montreal) and get three wins in Cincinnati (on the assumption no-one gives him a walkover).

Djokovic’s 43 [46] winning matches in a row:

2010: Davis Cup: Simon 6-3 6-1 7-5; Monfils 6-2 6-2 6-4;
2011: Hopman Cup: Golubev 4-6 6-3 6-1, Hewitt 6-2 6-4, Bemelmans 6-3 6-2;
Australian Open: Granollers 6-1 6-3 6-1, Dodig 7-5 6-7(8) 6-0 6-2, Troicki 6-2 ret., Almagro 6-3 6-4 6-0, Berdych 6-1 7-6(5) 6-1, Federer 7-6(3) 7-5 6-4, Murray 6-4 6-2 6-3; Dubai: Llodra 6-3 6-3, F.Lopez 6-3 2-6 6-4, F.Mayer 7-5 6-1, Berdych 6-7(5) 6-2 4-2 ret., Federer 6-3 6-3; Indian Wells: Golubev 6-0 6-4, Gulbis 6-0 6-1, Troicki 6-0 6-1, Gasquet 6-2 6-4, Federer 6-3 3-6 6-2, Nadal 4-6 6-3 6-2; Miami: Istomin 6-0 6-1, Blake 6-2 6-0, Troicki 6-3 6-2, Anderson 6-4 6-2, Fish 6-3 6-1, Nadal 4-6 6-3 7-6(4); Belgrade: Ungur 6-2 6-3, Kavcic 6-3 6-2, F.Lopez 7-6(4) 6-2; Madrid: Anderson 6-3 6-4, Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-2, Ferrer 6-4 4-6 6-3, Bellucci 4-6 6-4 6-1, Nadal 7-5 6-4; Rome: Kubot 6-0 6-3, Wawrinka 6-4 6-1, Soderling 6-3 6-0, Murray 6-1 3-6 7-6(2), Nadal 6-4 6-4; Roland Garros: De Bakker 6-2 6-3 6-1, Hanescu 6-4 6-1 2-3 ret., Del Potro 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2, Gasquet 6-4 6-4 6-2

The longest winning streaks in the Open era (at least 30 wins):

# I suggest an alternative version of the streaks in brackets

49 [35] – Bjorn Borg (1978) *
46 [50] – Guillermo Vilas (1977) **
44 – Ivan Lendl (1982)
43 [46] – Novak Djokovic (2010-11) ***
42 – John McEnroe (1984)
41 [31] – Roger Federer (2006-07) ****

36 [18] – Jimmy Connors (1975)
35 [28] – Connors (1974) *****
35 [48, 41] – Borg (1979-80) ******
35 – Thomas Muster (1995)
35 – Federer (2005)
32 – Rafael Nadal (2008)
31 – Rod Laver (1969)
31 – Borg (1979)
31 [35] – Lendl (1985) *******
30 – Connors (1978)

* During the streak Borg gave two walkovers thus his streak doesn’t appear officially which is unjust in my opinion because a walkover isn’t count neither as a win nor loss; to be precise – giving a walkover you lose a tournament, but you don’t notch a defeat to anyone
** Vilas won an exhibition tournament in Rye (August ’77) – four additional wins
*** Djokovic won three matches at the Hopman Cup ’11
**** Federer after 31 consecutive wins was beaten at Kooyong in an exhibition tournament
***** Connors during the streak in ’75, just like Borg gave two walkovers, one year before one walkover
****** Borg during the streak won three tournaments recognized by ATP but I’ve got my doubts because those  tournaments had an “invitational” status, other tournaments of this kind (like Kooyong or Antwerp aren’t recognized by ATP)… During the streak again he gave two walkovers, therefore you can find info that in the period he won 41 consecutive matches not 48
******* Lendl during the streak won also an exhibition tournament in Antwerp – four wins

The longest winning streaks to open a year:

42 – John McEnroe (1984)
41 – Novak Djokovic (2011)
29 – Ivan Lendl (1986)
23 [31] – Bjorn Borg (1980) ******
22 – McEnroe (1985)

The longest winning streaks in ‘Masters 1000’ tournaments:

29 – Roger Federer (2005-06)
22 – Novak Djokovic (2011)
19 – Pete Sampras (1994)
18 – Rafael Nadal (2005 & 2010)
17 – Thomas Muster (1995)

Matches that ended the six longest winning streaks:

October 2, 1977 (Aix en Provence, F): Vilas l. Ilie Nastase 1-6, 5-7 ret.
September 9, 1978 (US Open, F): Borg l. Jimmy Connors 4-6, 2-6, 2-6
February 19, 1982 (La Quinta, F): Lendl l. Yannick Noah 3-6, 6-2, 5-7
June 10, 1984 (Roland Garros, F): McEnroe l. Ivan Lendl 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 5-7
March 11, 2007 (Indian Wells, 2R): Federer l. Guillermo Canas 5-7, 2-6
June 3, 2011 (Roland Garros, SF): Djokovic l. Roger Federer 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5)

Here  you can find more detailed info about the longest streaks in the Open era.