For a large portion of the 2000s, Roger Federer was by far the best player in the world.
Federer won 15 of his 20 Grand Slam titles prior to 2010, including five consecutive Wimbledon titles and five straight US Open crowns.
The Swiss also picked up three Australian Open titles during that decade, as well as completing the Career Grand Slam with his 2009 Roland Garros triumph.
What would the score be if Carlos Alcaraz faced prime Roger Federer?
Who is winning and in how many sets?
Of course, Federer was tested by his rival, Rafael Nadal, during those years, but outside of the Spaniard, there was nobody on his level.
At least, not until Novak Djokovic came along, who was adamant he would one day compete with the two best players in the world for the biggest prizes in tennis.
Novak Djokovic’s comments about Roger Federer in 2007
In 2007, Djokovic really started to make a name for himself on the ATP Tour, having won his first Masters title in Miami before reaching his first major semifinal at Roland Garros.
He followed it up with another Grand Slam semifinal appearance at Wimbledon, where he knocked out Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis en route.
Ahead of his semifinal matchup with Nadal, Djokovic was asked about Federer, and why his attitude towards the idea of beating him is so different to everyone else on tour.
The Serb replied: “Why should I be frightened? For me it’s totally normal thing. If you go out on the court thinking positively and thinking, I can win against anybody, I think that’s a right thinking.
How would you rate Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning Wimbledon?
“If you go with the white flag on the court, what you’re doing there? You know what I mean?
“Federer is surely No. 1 player of the world already for last four years, the best player, most consistent player, probably one of the best tennis players in the history of this sport. We all know that.
“But looking from my point of view I really want to get to that place. That’s my goal: To be No. 1 player of the world. I’m really going slowly even though I made fantastic results in last two years. But I’m really trying to go step by step, really slowly, and I’m sure that my time will come.
“Even though I lost four times to him, I’m still working on my strokes, on my game. Every time I play him or Nadal I learn something new and see the things, negative things, what I need to improve on so I can win next time.”
Novak Djokovic’s first win against Roger Federer later that season
At the time of Djokovic’s comments, Federer led their head-to-head 4-0, having won their first four bouts across 2006 and 2007.
Federer emerged victorious over Djokovic for the first time at the 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters, and followed it up with a win at the Davis Cup later that year, before beating him at both the Australian Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships in 2007.
Their fifth meeting came in the final of the 2007 Canadian Open, and on this occasion, Djokovic took the opening set in a match with Federer for the first time.
Djokovic clinched the first-set tiebreak, but Federer quickly replied by winning the second set 6-2.
In the decider, Djokovic forced another tiebreak and won the shootout again to finally beat Federer, while also securing his second Masters title.
The head-to-head between Federer and Djokovic finished 23-27 in favour of the latter.
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