Novak Djokovic: Ranking Nole's Victories over Rafael Nadal This Season

As a tennis fanbase around the world, we have seen many players who are the so-called "player to beat" on tour.

From the Borg-McEnroe era, to Sampras-Agassi to Federer-Nadal.

As the famous Andrew Castle of BBC said in the 2008 Wimbledon final, there's a new man at the helm of men's tennis: Novak Djokovic.

Novak has beaten the former man to beat—Rafael Nadal—five times this year. In doing so, he captured the world No. 1 ranking.

The next five slides will show you those five Novak Djokovic victories in order of great to greatest. 

5. 2011 Masters 1000 Final in Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 4-6 6-3 6-2

Before this final in Indian Wells, Djokovic had never defeated Nadal in a final.

It looked like that wasn't going to change as Nadal took the first set 6-4.

But Djokovic found it within him to go out there and out-Nadal Rafael Nadal. 

In the last two sets, Djokovic looked the less tired of the two and took the last two sets in great fashion to capture the Indian Wells title. 

4. 2011 Masters 1000 Final in Miami

Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)

The two were at it again in South Florida, and just like in Indian Wells, Nadal took the first set 6-4.

History repeated itself as Djokovic convincingly took the second set.

The third set was a reminder of how good these guys are.

Both players hit stunning winners and played exceptional defense, taking the set into a tiebreak, where Nadal came up short.

Rafa looked the more tired of the two competitors at the end. Djokovic became the fourth man to claim the Australian Open-Indian Wells-Miami triple.

The three others were Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. 

3. 2011 Masters 1000 Final in Madrid

Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-4

We've reached the European clay-court season and the next stop is Madrid.

Nadal and Djokovic made the final. This time it's on clay and in Spain.

Nadal has the upper hand you suppose, right?

Guess again. 

Novak Djokovic played astounding clay-court tennis to take the title away from Nadal—in his homeland—in straight sets.

What a way to get into somebody's head.

2. 2011 Masters 1000 Final in Rome

Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4

This victory comes in at number two because of how convincing it was.

Especially after Djokovic played one of the matches of the year against Murray in the semifinals, I assumed Novak was going to be tired, but boy did he prove me wrong.

Novak went out there and showed the world that he was ready to become No. 1.

1. 2011 Wimbledon Final

Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3

Another big final, another Rafa-Nole showdown.

This time, it was at a Grand Slam, at the cathedral of tennis: Wimbledon.

I was hoping to see Nadal put up a better fight than this, but there's not much you can do when Novak's game was automatic for most of those four sets.

Wonderful to watch, no matter if you're a Federer fan (like me) or a Nadal fan. It was top class.

Novak Djokovic gained the No. 1 ranking in his victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semis, so this Wimbledon trophy was an assurance as to who's the top dog in tennis at the moment.

Who knows how long the moment lasts?