Nearly two decades after his first ATP semifinal in Zagreb back in February 2006, Novak Djokovic continues to defy time and expectations.
Then, a teenage prodigy who fell to Ivan Ljubičić in three tight sets, Djokovic is now a 38-year-old legend still competing and winning – at the highest level of the sport.
This week in Athens, the World No. 1 proved once again that longevity and excellence can coexist. Djokovic advanced to his eighth ATP semifinal of the 2025 season at Hellenic Championship following his win over Nuno Borges of Portugal. With this, he now stands at 199 ATP semifinal appearances, just one shy of yet another monumental career milestone.
Only Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer have crossed the 200 semi-final mark in the Open Era, and Djokovic is poised to join their elite company by the close of 2025 or early next season. Federer’s record of 211 semi-finals is within striking distance, and if Djokovic maintains his consistency into 2026 and 2027, surpassing that benchmark looks increasingly likely.
This season, the Serbian star has once again “stopped the clock” – reaching six major semi-finals, including all four Grand Slams, as well as deep runs in Miami and Shanghai. A few early exits may have delayed his 200th semi-final, but the milestone now feels inevitable.
Skipping the Paris Masters to focus on the ATP 250 event in Athens, Djokovic opened with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Alejandro Tabilo, beating the Chilean for the first time after two previous losses on clay. The Serb held firm in a tight first set before cruising through the second with two breaks of serve.
In the quarterfinals, Djokovic battled past Borges 7-6, 6-4, once again leaning on his experience in key moments. After sealing the first set in a flawless tiebreak, he grabbed a crucial break in the second to secure victory – and his place in yet another ATP semi-final, inching closer to what could soon be his 101st career title.