The plethora of tennis players have achieved the rare feat of thwarting the 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in their sole encounter throughout their careers. Here are some of the notable examples of unique one-time victors.
While these one-sided wins are impressive, they showcase the exceptional nature of Novak Djokovic's tennis dominance. The fact that these players could only defeat once in their lifetime showcases Serbian legends ability to learn and improve.
Surprisingly, some of these matches took place when Djokovic was still developing his legendary status, showcasing that even the greatest stars can face challenges and unexpected defeats at any time in their careers.
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Here is a list of the 8 players who surprised Novak Djokovic once in their careers:
1. Antony Dupuis
The French-born star has defeated Djokovic in their only game in Valencia back in 2005, winning the game in the straight sets of the game. Shortly after this, Dupuis retired from the game.
2. Dennis Van Scheppingen
The Dutch player thwarted Djokovic in the Bangkok tournament back in 2004, winning the game 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. This game represented their exclusive encounter on the ATP tour.
3. Filippo Volandri
The star player secured a straight-set win against Novak Djokovic back in 2004, winning the set by 7-6, 6-1. This game was their first and only meeting.
4. Taro Daniel
The Japan-born star shocked the tennis world by toppling Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells back in 2018. After a closely contested first two sets, Taro dominated the third set and won the game by 7-6, 4-6, and 6-13.
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5. Dan Evans
The England-born star stunned world number one Novak Djokovic with an impressive 6-4, 7-5 win at the Monte Carlo Masters. Evans, known for his great style, delivered masterful performances to disrupt Djokovic's rhythm in the game.
6. Luca Nardi
In a stunning upset at the 2024 Indian Wells, Nardi toppled his idol, Novak Djokovic, by 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the third round of the game. Interestingly, he heads to this game as an injured player.
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7. Alejandro Tabilo
In a stunning upset at the 2024 Italian Open, the Chilean tennis star defeated Novak Djokovic by 6-2, 6-3 in just 67 minutes of the game play. This game was the breakthrough moment for Tabilo, marking the biggest win of his career.
8. Reilly Opelka
In a stunning upset at the 2025 Brisbane International, American tennis star Opelka defeated world number seven Novak in the quarterfinals of the game. This game just took place ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, potentially disrupting Novak's preparation for the showpiece event where he aims to win his record-extending title.
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