Novak Djokovic is the greatest of all time for many reasons. In this particular instance, we are talking about two of his impressive head-to-head records against top ranked players.
Novak Djokovic vs. Gael Monfils
Imagine playing someone 20 times and losing every single time. That is the case for France’s Gael Monfils, 39, who is 0-20 against the 38-year-old Djokovic. Monfils is a great player, but clearly the matchup with Djokovic is not a good one for him.
On every surface imaginable since 2005, Monfils has lost to Djokovic, the most recent in Brisbane in January 2025 in straight sets.
Makes it 20-0 🙌@DjokerNole defeats Monfils, continuing his perfect record against the Frenchman!#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/9h3mkC3Yml
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 2, 2025
Monfils is a competitor and never gives up, but it has to be a little intimidating playing Djokovic given this history.
Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz
American Taylor Fritz knows the pain that Gael Monfils experiences. The 27-year-old is 0-11 against Djokovic. Even more discouraging is that Fritz has only won four sets against Djokovic since they began playing each other in 2018.
24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic defeats 2024 runner up and world #4 Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to reach a 14th semifinal at the #USOpen.
3h23.
Nole 11-0 vs. Fritz
53 Grand Slam semifinals including in all four Majors in 2025.
38yo.
Absurd. pic.twitter.com/yQPx21hYl1
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 3, 2025
Fritz recently ended his winless streak against Carlos Alcaraz at last weekend’s Laver Cup after three straight losses. Could he erase his winless history against Djokovic the next time they play?
He may be able to, but the opportunities are not going to be as frequent. Djokovic is committed to playing the Grand Slams and just a select few tournaments outside of that.
WTA Also Has Lopsided Head-to-Head
Novak Djokovic is not the only player who intimidates an opponent. The WTA version of this lopsided head-to-head record is Jelena Ostapenko’s 6-0 record against Iga Swiatek.
It is a bad matchup for Swiatek, and everyone talks about it any time the two are in the same section of a tournament draw.
“She’s a great clay court player but I won the French too so I can say the same about myself” – Jelena Ostapenko😭😭
1s Stuttgart semi-final and 6-0 H2H vs Iga Swiatek. pic.twitter.com/eJR8V6Rn7a
— PhineMotorSkills (@rdmtennisfan) April 19, 2025
Swiatek will have more chances at Ostapenko and given how free and loose she is playing ever since surprising herself and the world by winning Wimbledon, we think she will get a win over Ostapenko eventually.
