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Andy Murray: Epic rivalries with Federer, Djokovic, Nadal & more
Looking back at Murray’s memorable Lexus ATP Head2Head series
July 28, 2024
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Andy Murray with great rivals Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the 2022 Laver Cup.
By Arthur Kapetanakis
Across his iconic career, Andy Murray grew from a boisterous, rising Scottish star to an ever-present, grizzled veteran and legend of the ATP Tour. In that time, the 37-year-old developed all manner of Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalries — some with older competitors, some with younger foes, and many with his contemporaries.
Murray’s biggest rivals were no doubt his fellow members of the Big 4: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Murray has met each of those superstars at least 24 times, including 36 meetings with Djokovic.
ATPTour.com looks back at the history of those matchups and another pivotal series, against Stan Wawrinka, that shaped the story of Murray’s competitive career.
Murray vs. Djokovic (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 11-25)
Murray and Djokovic are contemporaries in the most literal sense, with Murray just one week older than the Serbian. Their long-running rivalry was sparked at the ATP Masters 1000 level, where nine of their first 10 Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings took place (including the first seven from 2006-09).
Murray lost their first four matchups but then won the first two of what would ultimately become 19 final meetings between the pair, triumphing in Cincinnati and Miami before Djokovic won their maiden Grand Slam showdown in the 2011 Australian Open final.
While Djokovic enjoyed the lion’s share of success in this rivalry, Murray claimed three straight matches from 2008-09 (including those Cincinnati and Miami finals) and two straight matches in 2012: their Olympic semi-final en route to the gold medal in London, followed by a five-set US Open final that earned him his first major crown. Those are the only two stretches during which the Briton won consecutive matches against Djokovic.
Murray defeated Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title in 2013. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.
Two of the most significant match wins of Murray’s career came against Djokovic, whom he beat to claim his maiden Wimbledon crown in 2013 and in the championship match at the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals (then known as the ATP World Tour Finals). The latter, played in London, was a straight shootout for year-end No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“It’s a very special day,” Murray said after a 6-3, 6-4 win at the 2016 season finale saw him end the year on a 24-match winning streak. “It’s been a tough rivalry [with Djokovic]. I’ve lost many of them but obviously I’m happy I’ve got the win today. To finish the year No. 1 is very special. It’s something I never expected.”
The pair met five times in 2016, all in finals, with Murray also winning in Rome but Djokovic taking the titles at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and in Madrid.
Murray and Djokovic are one of only two pairs of ATP Tour players to have contested the final at each of the four majors (also Djokovic and Nadal). The Serbian owns an 8-2 record against Murray at the Slams, including a 5-2 mark in major finals.
Djokovic also owns an 11-8 edge in tour-level finals and a 14-6 advantage at the ATP Masters 1000s. But he never beat Murray on grass, where the Briton is a perfect 2-0.
Their rivalry was always one built on mutual respect, as evidenced by their teaming up in men’s doubles for the 2006 Australian Open when both were 19.
Murray vs. Federer (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 11-14)
Murray led Federer for much of their rivalry, until the Swiss won their final five meetings to finish with the upper hand. Murray owns a 6-3 edge at the ATP Masters 1000s, including consecutive 2010 final victories in Toronto and Shanghai, while Federer dominated with a 5-1 record at the majors.
Murray beat Federer in the 2010 Rolex Shanghai Masters final. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images.
Murray’s Grand Slam frustration against the Swiss came to a head in the 2012 Wimbledon final, when he lost in four sets despite a brilliant start on home soil. “I’m getting closer,” he said through tears during the trophy ceremony, a remark which could have applied to his bid to beat Federer at a major as much as the Briton’s personal quest to win his home Grand Slam. To that point, Murray was 0-3 against the Swiss at the Slams, with each meeting coming in the title round.
But one month later, back on Centre Court, Murray dominated Federer in a straight-sets win to claim the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
“It’s number one for me, the biggest win of my life,” Murray said. “I have had a lot of tough losses in my career and this is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final.”
The confidence from that victory helped the Briton get over the line at the All England Club the next year, when he beat Djokovic to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles title since Fred Perry in 1936.
Murray and Federer also played five times at the Nitto ATP Finals, with Murray earning a comeback three-set win in 2008 before Federer swept their meetings in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. All but one of those year-end meetings came in the round-robin stage, with their 2012 semi-final in London the lone exception.
Beginning with the 2009 season finale, seven of their last 16 matches were played in London.
Murray vs. Nadal (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 7-17)
Murray lost his first five meetings with Nadal but broke his duck in the 2008 US Open semi-finals to reach his first Grand Slam final. Despite trailing in the Lexus ATP Head2Head, Murray owned a 3-1 edge in tour-level finals against Nadal, claiming wins in Rotterdam (2009), Tokyo (2011) and Madrid (2015).
Murray and Nadal after their 2009 Rotterdam title match. Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images.
The rivalry peaked in 2011 with five meetings on some of the ATP Tour’s biggest stages. Nadal won the first four — semi-finals at Monte-Carlo, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open — before Murray flipped the script in the Tokyo final.
Nadal owned an 8-3 edge at the ATP Masters 1000s and a 7-2 advantage at the majors. The pair played just one five-set match: their very first meeting at the 2007 Australian Open, where Nadal grinded out a win from two-sets-to-one down. The Spaniard was also 2-0 against Murray at the Nitto ATP Finals, with a semi-final win in 2010 and a round-robin victory in 2015.
Their 2010 meeting at the year-end event was one of the most dramatic of their 24 encounters, a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6) win for Nadal. After three hours, 11 minutes of incredible quality in London, Nadal clawed back a 1/4 deficit in the decisive tie-break to advance to the title match.
“It was a great match,” Murray said, his head held high in defeat. “Today is why I play tennis. I probably played one bad game the whole match, or maybe just a couple of bad points. Whether it’s the best match I played and lost, I don’t know.”
Murray vs. Wawrinka (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 13-10)
Both three-time Grand Slam champions, Murray and Wawrinka are separated by just two years in age, with the Swiss 26 months older. The pair’s rivalry spanned 20 years on the ATP Tour, from 2005-24.
Their clashes often showcased contrasting styles, pitting Wawrinka’s aggressive shotmaking and sheer power against Murray’s tactical precision and defensive prowess. These different approaches added an intriguing dynamic to their encounters, a compelling narrative across the game’s biggest stages.
Murray and Wawrinka met for the final time at Roland Garros in 2024. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.
Murray won the only two finals he contested against Wawrinka, one at the start of their rivalry (Doha 2008) and one nearer the end (Antwerp 2019). The Antwerp title was the Briton’s last on the ATP Tour, coming after his hip resurfacing surgery.
“It means a lot,” an emotional Murray said. “The last few years have been extremely difficult. Me and Stan have had a lot of injury problems in the last couple of years. Amazing to be back playing against him in a final like that.”
The contemporaries met at every Grand Slam but the Australian Open, with Wawrinka owning a 5-3 edge at the Slams. They split two of their highest-stakes matches in consecutive Roland Garros semi-finals in 2016 and 2017. It was an even 3-3 split at the ATP Masters 1000s, with four of those matchups going three sets.
In 2023, their rivalry even extended to the ATP Challenger Tour, with Wawrinka beating Murray in the first meeting between former Grand Slam champions in more than 40 years.