Novak Djokovic, a rising star in men’s tennis, emerged onto the scene in 2005, breaking into the top 100 and finishing the year as world No. 83. With a bold statement about his ambition, Djokovic made waves in 2006 by reaching the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros and the fourth round at Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Nicolas Massu, a two-time Olympic gold medallist from Chile, was making his mark on the tour.
When Djokovic and Massu faced off in the final of the Dutch Open in Amersfoort, Djokovic emerged victorious in straight sets, claiming his maiden title. This win was just the beginning of Djokovic’s illustrious career, as he went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.
In the years that followed, Djokovic continued to dominate the tennis world, winning multiple Grand Slam titles and ATP events. Meanwhile, Massu slowly declined in the rankings before retiring in 2013. Djokovic even purchased the Dutch Open license in 2009, transforming it into the Belgrade Open in Serbia.
Overall, the Dutch Open final between Djokovic and Massu was just the beginning of the incredible careers that lay ahead for both players.
