Novak Djokovic wins historic US Open

AFP

Novak Djokovic wouldn’t let Daniil Medvedev spoil his date with historical past a second time as he battled previous the Russian 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 to win the US Open on Sunday and equal Margaret Court’s file haul of 24 Grand Slams.

Djokovic’s victory, his fourth in 10 Flushing Meadows finals, capped one other outstanding season after his wins on the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and he’ll return to the highest of the world rankings when they’re up to date in a while Monday.

No man has gained a calendar Grand Slam in 54 years, although Djokovic got here shut as soon as once more, shedding in 5 units to Carlos Alcaraz within the Wimbledon remaining.

But for the second he’s savouring his twenty fourth Slam.

“It obviously means the world to me,” he stated. “I’m actually residing my childhood dream.

“To make the historical past of this sport is one thing really outstanding, it is exhausting to explain the phrases.

“I had the childhood dream when I was seven, eight, I wanted to become the best player in the world.”

As he continues to dwell his dream, Djokovic can be staking his declare to the mantle of biggest tennis participant of all time.

At 36, Djokovic additionally turns into the oldest US Open males’s winner within the Open Era however the Serb’s Grand Slam starvation has not dimmed and he had some dangerous news for his youthful rivals.

“Eventually one day I will leave tennis in about 23, 24 years,” he joked. “Until then, I suppose you may see me a bit extra.

“I do not put any quantity proper now in my thoughts on what number of Slams I wish to win.

“I’ll continue to prioritise them as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis.”

Novak hits 2️⃣4️⃣

How it sounded on US Open radio 🎙 pic.twitter.com/BPwpFlp0fy

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2023

After clinching his historic title, Djokovic threw his racquet into the air and dropped to his knees as the gang roared.

He picked himself up and located his younger daughter court-side for an emotional hug earlier than going again to the bench and pulling out a T-shirt with ‘Mamba Forever’ on the entrance and the quantity 24 on the again.

The shirt was a tribute to each his achievement and to his late pal Los Angeles Lakers nice Kobe Bryant, who wore the quantity all through a lot of his all-star profession earlier than dying in a helicopter crash.

“I thought of doing this T-shirt, eventually, if I get the chance to win the tournament,” stated Djokovic. “Kobe was a detailed pal, we chatted quite a bit in regards to the winner’s mentality.

“When I was struggling with injury he was one of the people I relied on the most.”

That’s a variety of {hardware}. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eRPA0vxNMl

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2023

Neither Djokovic nor Medvedev have been absolutely embraced by the New York crowds and till the top of the match there was little of the electrical energy that crackled by Arthur Ashe in the course of the ladies’s remaining on Saturday.

As the match began Djokovic walked out onto court docket and stared throughout the web at Medvedev, the person as soon as once more standing between him and historical past simply as he had two years in the past.

The final time the 2 clashed on the US Open was in 2021 remaining, when the Russian captured his solely main and denied the Serb that elusive calendar Grand Slam.

Djokovic didn’t converse of revenge on the highway to the ultimate and solely referenced that loss as a studying expertise.

“I haven’t played any tournament on American soil for two years,” stated Djokovic, who missed final yr’s Slam as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions.

“I actually did my greatest within the final 48 hours to not enable the significance of the second and what’s on the road get to my head.

“Two years in the past that is what occurred and I wasn’t capable of be at my greatest and I used to be outplayed.

“So I learned my lesson.”

KILLER INSTINCT

As anticipated of a contest that includes the game’s two premier hardcourt gamers, virtually each level was contested with lengthy rallies as each males pounded away from the baseline.

Djokovic got here out enjoying with function and utilized stress straight away, breaking the third seed on the first alternative on his solution to a 3-0 lead.

That can be the one break Djokovic would want in opposition to a surprisingly flat Medvedev, who couldn’t elevate his play to the “12 out of 10” stage he stated he reached in beating defending champion Alcaraz within the semi-finals.

During a marathon one hour and 44 minute, lung-bursting second set Medvedev got here to life, forcing a faltering Djokovic into lengthy grinding level after lengthy grinding level.

But the tireless Russian’s exhausting work didn’t pay dividends and he was unable to transform a break probability at 6-5 that may have given him the set.

Medvedev charged in entrance 3-1 within the tie-break however once more couldn’t land the knockout blow as Djokovic got here off the ropes to take it 7-5 for a 2-0 lead.

If there’s one factor Djokovic possesses it’s a killer intuition and the Serb wasted no time in urgent dwelling his benefit, breaking Medvedev to go up 3-1 within the third.

A defiant Medvedev answered along with his first and solely break of the match nevertheless it was not sufficient with Djokovic hitting proper again with one other break then holding serve the remainder of solution to clinch the title.